Paris History, France

France being one of the leading nations in Europe has a history that can be traced back to thousands of years.  Life was possible for the Neanderthals back then due to fertile lands and favorable geographical location. Due to this reasons, Paris has become a center for artistic and intellectual development for numerous centuries with influences including Celtic, Roman, and Scandinavian. 

 To understand its history, it is best to review it by period. 

During the Roman times around 3rd century BC, the Parisii or Celtics inhabited Ile de la Cite and continued for 3 centuries until the barbaric invasion. 

In 52 BC, Julius Caesar captured the city which became to be called Gaul.   By 5th century, invasions were widespread particularly by the Attila and the Huns.  Clovis I renamed Gaul to Paris and as the capital of his kingdom.  Soon enough, churches were built.

In the 7th century, the Carolingians led by Charlemagne took over Paris and resulted to loss of political power.  But in 987 AD, Hugh Capet, became the king of France and French government was once again secured.  Then the construction of Notre-Dame Cathedral was initiated by Bishop Maurice de Sully in 1163 and completed only by 1330. During the 12th and 13th century, more churches and monuments were built including the Saint Chapelle Cathedral.  In 1180, construction of Louvre, which was then a fortress, began.  Universities were built as well and Paris gained the educational reputation on an international level from then on. 

Around 14th century, Paris had a decline in population due to a plague popularly known as the Black Death. The rebirth of Paris or the Renaissance turned the city to be a center for art and architecture as well as technology.  It was also during this period that religious conflicts got out of hand and resulted to what we know now as St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre—when Catholics massacred the Protestants.

 The period of Enlightenment saw completion of major architectural developments like the Pantheon—what was supposed to be for aesthetic purposes became a part of socio-civic life of the people. 

On July 14, 1789, the Bastille prison in Paris was burned and marked the beginning of French Revolution.  Life got harder for the people and the monarchy showed no sign of sympathy or concern which resulted to the beheading of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. 

 Napoleon Bonaparte stabilized the situation and became emperor. By the middle of 19th century, Paris greatly improved in terms of infrastructures like buildings, road and sewage systems.  From that time up until 1940, there were a lot of revolutions mostly due to power hunger and people rising up to the leaders. By 1944, Paris is freed with help of Allied Forces and restorations were done in the major architectural sites which were affected by the numerous wars it had undergone.  

In modern-day Paris, we cannot see traces of hardships from centuries before, as it has become one of the most powerful cities in Europe, thanks to its rich heritage.

email to a friendAsk our travel experts a question about Paris
ask now

Things about Paris you may be interested in

• Paris Guide Books
• Paris Reviews
• Paris Travel tips

 

+ list your site

 

ReviewsTravel TipsWrite a reviewWrite a travel tip

 

 

Read our members' reviews about Paris

• You will need a lot of time in Paris
  review by erato posted more then 30 days ago
  Paris is just as beautiful as they say. The whole city, the streets, the buildings. Although, I didn't like the contrast between the old buildings and the very modern ones next to each other. The city was also extremely crowded, there are very many people and cars on the streets, at the...
• Public transportation in Paris
  review by erato posted more then 30 days ago
  Paris is indeed an amazing city with world famous monuments and people. It is as beautiful as they say but still causes many surprises for a first-time visitor like myself.Paris - Transportation There are two different cities, one under the earth and another one up in the sunlight. The metro...
• Top things to do in Paris
  review by diana_ciocoiu posted more then 30 days ago
  Paris, the capital and largest city of France, is an important cultural center of fashion, entertainment and gastronomy.The most recommended periods to visit Paris are spring and autumn. Why? Because the agreeable temperature provide better conditions for tourists to visit the fascinating city....

view all

 

Read our members' travel tips about Paris

• Basilique du Sacré-Coeur
  travel tip by zsoldicsa posted more then 30 days ago
  The dome was built in Romanesque style and is another major symbol of Paris, so don't miss it. You can wander around the basilica and admire the beautiful gardens in the Montmartre area. There are so many tiny and adorable streets...
• Arc de Triomphe
  travel tip by MadSuh posted more then 30 days ago
  The Arc de Triomphe is one of the most famous sites in Paris and a symbol for Paris. It is beautifully located on Champs Elysées and was built for the victory of Napoleon's army. Tourists can climb the Arc de Triomphe can get a nice...
• The Louvre
  travel tip by Wazling posted more then 30 days ago
  If you are at Paris, you should definitely visit the Louvre. It´s one of the most famous museums, with exceptional collections for nearly every period of the human beings and for every piece of art and history

view all

 

 

Community

Members Who Have Been to Paris

See who has been to Paris and ask them a question (membership required)

MadSuh ask a question add to friends

zdanko ask a question add to friends

SOUDHA ask a question add to friends

mascha ask a question add to friends

 

show all

 

Community Galleries About Paris

Browse our members' Paris galleries to get a better impression of the place

view gallery

view gallery

view gallery

 

show alladd gallery

 

 

the best travel deals provided by TravelZoo...