Difference between revisions of "Paris"
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| − | '''Paris''' is situated on the [[River Seine]] and is the capital and largest city of [[France]]. The population of the Greater Paris urban area is approximately 10 million, or almost one-sixth of the total population. | + | '''Paris''' is situated on the [[River Seine]] and is the capital and largest city of [[France]]. The population of the Greater Paris urban area is approximately 10 million, or almost one-sixth of the total population of France. |
==History== | ==History== | ||
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*[[Notre Dame cathedral]], which was the setting for [[Victor Hugo]]'s novel, ''[[The Hunchback of Notredame]]''. | *[[Notre Dame cathedral]], which was the setting for [[Victor Hugo]]'s novel, ''[[The Hunchback of Notredame]]''. | ||
*Montmartre | *Montmartre | ||
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| + | ==Urban Unrest== | ||
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| + | The suburbs around Paris (''les banlieues'') are known for large apartment blocks, housing many of the newest Muslim immigrants to France. These have been rocked by violence as youths have rioted against long term unemployment and perceived intolerance by the police forces. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 00:53, December 9, 2007
For Paris from the Trojan War please click here
Paris is situated on the River Seine and is the capital and largest city of France. The population of the Greater Paris urban area is approximately 10 million, or almost one-sixth of the total population of France.
History
As with many other important cities in Europe, the Romans set up a military outpost (52 B.C.) on the location that would one day become Paris. In the 6th century A.D., King Clovis I established Paris as his capital. This was confirmed when Huge Capet became king of France in 987 A.D. Growth increased under the reign of Philip II (1180-1223) and Paris remained the capital when Louis XIV set up his court in Versailles in 1682. The Germans occupied Paris in World War II. It was liberated near the end of the war, but was largely undamaged.[1]
Famous Paris landmarks include:
- Eiffel Tower
- Arc de Triomphe
- Louvre
- Notre Dame cathedral, which was the setting for Victor Hugo's novel, The Hunchback of Notredame.
- Montmartre
Urban Unrest
The suburbs around Paris (les banlieues) are known for large apartment blocks, housing many of the newest Muslim immigrants to France. These have been rocked by violence as youths have rioted against long term unemployment and perceived intolerance by the police forces.
References
- ↑ The New American Desk Encyclopedia, Penguin Group, 1989