Page 2 - TravelSketch - PARIS
P. 2
INTRO
Paris spreads on each side of the Seine river linked by 37 bridges: the Right Bank remains home of the
th
th
establishment (8 and 16 Arrondissement), money (Banks) and political power (Presidency and
National Assembly), while the Left bank has always been the homeland of intellectuals (St Germain),
artists (Montparnasse) and universities (Sorbonne).
From the Roman occupation (52 BC-508 AD), where some ruins can still be found in the
« Latin Quarter» (Arenes de Lutèce, Thermes de Cluny) to the dark age of Viking invasions in the 800’s,
Paris, once limited to the « ile de la Cité » turned into a fortress and expanded gradually on both
banks of the Seine river from the 11th century. The Gargoyles of Notre-Dame Cathedral (built in 1163)
still remember that Francis I, the first Renaissance Monarch, transformed the Louvre from a medieval
fortress into a magnificent palace, and saw its expansion over centuries to include in 1993 the very
modern Pei’s glass pyramid. And that Saint Germain was nothing but a field until it became in the 17th
century a chic place for the nobles to build their « hotel particuliers » (mansions). But the most
dramatic transformation of Paris occurred in 1860, when Emperor Napoleon III decided to make Paris
the most beautiful capital of Europe : Baron Haussman remodeled almost 60% of the then Paris,
redesigned the urban landscape of the city by creating large avenues, annexed Montmartre and
Auteuil to make the 20 « arrondissements », built train stations, the Opera, the Halles market and
printed his « Haussmanian » style to the buildings! he modernization of Paris was however achieved …
in the 70’s when the 22 miles, 8 lanes « perif » Paris express beltway was built, along with the
Montparnasse tower and the kick-off of the business district of La Defense in the west suburb.
Nowadays, Paris is more protective of its cultural and architectural heritage.
Once capital of the world, Paris remains a reference and is still the City of Lights. The heavy gates of
old buildings still keep secrets and hide some gems yet to be discovered.
