| Overview | How to arrive | Things to do | Restaurants | Tips |
Overview
Paris – The Lovers’ Haven
It has been called the City of Lights and the ultimate heaven for hopeless romantics. It is the hub of fine arts, haute couture and a gastronomical heaven. It is also home to one of the world’s most intriguing engineering marvels – the Eiffel Tower. The world calls it Paris and the French call it “Pari” but it is loved by all.
The Eiffel Tower, as seen from the
Esplanade du Tocadéro (Left)
Paris is one of the most romantic destinations in the world and it isn’t too hard to figure out why. The city’s amazing architecture, eclectic museums, famous monuments and its stylish, charming people stir up a compelling concoction. Known for its artistic bend and its intellectual ideas, Paris is a magnet for tourists who would love to sit at a sidewalk café and watch the modern and old age Europe pass by, hand in hand.
Though spring is the best time to go to Paris a lot of tourists don’t hesitate to beat the heat during the summer months for an evening in the Champs-Elysees or a leisurely stroll along the Seine.
Traveling to Paris for a vacation is a dream for most tourists but before you start packing your bags, educate yourself with some information about La Ville Lumíére or The City of Lights so that when you get there it’ll be right down to business, without wasting a second.
La Historié
The foundations of Paris were laid towards the end of the 3rd century by a Celtic Gaul tribe called Parisii who built a fishing village on what is now the Ile de la Cite. The Parisii called the village ‘Loukteih’ – Gallic for ‘marsh’ – and were a rich tribe that held a strong trading position over the Seine. Soon they caught the eye of the Romans, who led a long feud with the Gauls and finally gained control of the land in 52 BC after Vercingetorix led a Celtic uprising with the help of the Parisii and lost. The Romans expanded the village and renamed it Lutetia, introduced Christianity in the 3rd century BC and left an indelible mark on the city with their typical architecture when they were usurped by the Frankish Kings in the 5th century. In 508 AD, the Frankish King Clovis I united Gaul as a Kingdom and made Paris its capital – the name being derived from the region’s first known inhabitants, the Parisii.
Statue of Vercingetorix by Bartholdi, on Place de Jaude, in Clermont- Ferrand (Right)
The 12th and 13th centuries were a time of prosperity and development for Paris. Some of the most identifiable landmarks started to take shape during the 12th century; notable among those was the start of construction on the Cathedral of Notre Dame and draining and settling of the Marais area north of the Seine to create what we know today as Right Bank. Around 1200, construction of a fortress that includes the Louvre began. The year 1257 marked the founding of the Sorbonne by Robert de Sorbonne as one of the most significant colleges of the University of Paris.
The Hundred Years’ War led to the rule of Norman England in 1420 that ended only in 1429 when Joan of Arc led the French troops to defeat the English at Órleans. By the mid 1400s Renaissance had taken deep roots in France turning Paris into a flourishing center of art, science and architecture. Technological advances led to the expansion of the city and many of its signature buildings and monuments were built during this time. By 1572, Paris was again in a turmoil with clashes between Huguenots Protestants and Catholic groups resulting in the St. Bartholomew‘s Day massacre of 3000 Huguenots.
This was followed by the ascension of Louis XIV to the throne and his subsequent execution along with his capricious Queen – Marie Antoinette in the French Revolution. The post revolution government was ineffective in holding the country together and gave way to a Reign of Terror which ended when the young Corsican general, Napoleon Bonaparte consolidated the unstable government in 1799 and was crowned the emperor of France by the Pope. Napoleon conquered most of Europe before he met his final defeat at Waterloo in 1815. Though Napoleon was exiled to Elba, he left a rich legacy and the Arc de Triomphe for the people of France.
France walked the next few years unsteadily under the command of inept rulers till a coup brought Napoleon III to power in 1851. Although the new emperor is credited with the construction of a new, flashy Paris and a modern sewer system, he also led the country into the very unsuccessful Franco-Prussian War of 1870. As the emperor fell to the enemy, the Third Republic ushered in the glittering belle époque that brought with it Art Nouveau and many important advances in the arts and sciences. By 1930s, Paris was gaining a reputation for being an artistic avant-garde and a haven for liberal thinkers. Although the Nazi occupation marred this visage of the city for sometime, it regained its form and built up on it in the next few decades.
Today, Paris is known for being the creative hotbed of global fashion and is a gastronomical paradise. The city attracts designers, artists, music lovers and tourists alike. It is one of the most liberal and multicultural capitals in Europe and radical in its outlook and collective thinking. The collective social fabric of the city is a magnet for those who like to live life open-ended, unfettered in restrictive rules and regressive thinking. The city’s aesthetic inclination and its beautiful landscape attracts tourists from every corner of the world and none go back disappointed.
The Best Time in Paris
Because of its weather, its spirit of celebration and its romantic image, Paris welcomes tourists during several months of the year. An oft repeated advice from seasoned travelers says, ‘Paris is at its best in springtime’ and most tourists do head to Paris during this season, unmindful of the sudden bursts of springtime showers and the milling crowds.
The best time to go to Paris is in the months of March, June and September. December and January are good for those who like to celebrate their Christmas and New Years because Parisians know how to do that in style. The winter months are most romantic and if snuggling into a warm café is a welcome idea for you, then by all means…go!