| France is a country that is steeped in | | | | throne by virtue of his decent, but the |
| history and wherever you turn, you can see | | | | French barons rejected this, and hence the |
| the magnificent buildings and monuments that | | | | Hundred Years war began and the history of |
| have been constructed throughout the | | | | Paris in the 14th century was dictated by |
| centuries. | | | | outbreaks of plague, political violence and |
| | | | uprisings. |
| The first signs of civilisation around the | | | | |
| Paris region of France date back to around | | | | The English captured Paris in 1420, but Henry |
| the fourth millennium BC where dug out canoes | | | | V of England died at the Chateau de |
| have been found. And even as long ago at the | | | | Vincennes, just outside Paris city in 1422 |
| time of 250 BC there was a fishing village | | | | and despite the assistance of Joan of Arc, |
| along the River Seine in what we now know as | | | | Charles VII of France tried but failed to |
| Paris and because of the strategic position | | | | retake the city in 1429. |
| of the area for controlling river shipping, | | | | |
| it was always under a different rule. The | | | | Of any Valois monarch, Francois I probably |
| Romans took over after the revolt of 52 BC. | | | | had the greatest impact on Paris, |
| | | | transforming the Louvre and establishing a |
| After Attila the Hun invaded the region in | | | | glittering court including people such as |
| 451, it was thought that Paris was to be | | | | Leonardo da Vinci. |
| attacked, but according to legend Sainte | | | | |
| Genevieve, who is still the patron saint of | | | | King Henri IV made Paris his place of |
| Paris today, saved it. | | | | residence and he undertook a number of major |
| | | | public works in the city. This included |
| Clovis l commissioned the first cathedral and | | | | construction of the Pont Neuf, Saint-Louis |
| the first abbey, which was dedicated to | | | | Hospital, Place des Vosges and Place |
| Sainte Genevieve and he was buried in Paris | | | | Dauphine. He also made extensions to the |
| on his death in 511, alongside St Genevieve. | | | | Louvre. |
| | | | |
| It became under the rule of the Franks, but | | | | Paris became the intellectual and cultural |
| the city was neglected by the Empire and | | | | capital of the Western world during the |
| suffered grievously from Viking raiders who | | | | latter half of the 18th century, as it became |
| repeatedly sailed upriver to attack it. In | | | | a centre of the enlightenment and new |
| 885 the city was faced with a massive Viking | | | | thinking, which was encouraged by the state, |
| invasion force, believed to have numbered 700 | | | | with King Louis's mistress, Madame de |
| ships and 30,000 men! | | | | Pompadour, supporting the city's |
| | | | intellectuals and prompting the king to |
| The Grand-nephew of Count Odo, was elected | | | | construct striking new monuments. |
| King of France in 987 and he again made Paris | | | | |
| his capital and founded the Capetian dynasty, | | | | Paris became the capital of an empire and a |
| which still exists today. | | | | great military power and in a ceremony held |
| | | | in the Notre-Dame Cathedral in May 1804, |
| It is as early as the 12th century that the | | | | Napoleon crowned himself Emperor. |
| distinctive character of the Paris districts | | | | |
| started emerging and the Cathedral of Notre | | | | Russian and Austrian armies invaded France in |
| Dame de Paris was built in 1163 in the Ile de | | | | 1814 and on 31 March 1814, Paris fell to the |
| la Cite area of Paris, which was the centre | | | | Russians, which was the first time in around |
| of government and religious life. | | | | 400 years that the city had been conquered by |
| | | | a foreign power. |
| Philippe Auguste became the king in 1180, and | | | | |
| under his rule there were a number of major | | | | Paris was again retaken back by the French |
| building works, which were carried out in | | | | and this city continued to grow and expand |
| Paris. He built a new city wall and began the | | | | with more famous monuments being built and |
| construction of the Palais du Louvre, as well | | | | just with this very brief history focusing on |
| as paving streets and establishing a covered | | | | Paris, the History of France is fascinating |
| market at Les Halles. | | | | and there are numerous sites that you can |
| | | | still marvel at the architecture from years |
| Edward III of England claimed the French | | | | gone by. |