A Journey To Paris, France
Paris, France was the leading role during the Age of Enlightenment which is why it is known as The City of Light (Chittom). People who decide to travel around the world realized that there is more than one way to live. Getting to meet other people will show them that their views are not the same as others. Paris continues to be celebrated for its many monuments and is known to have an aura of romance and mystery. Around 250 BCE a Gaul tribe called Parisii settled in Paris, this group gave the city its name. These Gauls renamed the capital Lutetia, however a Germanic tribe called the Franks gave France its name. Later came King Clovis, who then converted to Christian and took the old name of Paris for its capital.
The Vikings became a civilized part of the community due to repeatedly invading the land. Many events took place, for example in 1789-93 The French Revolution began, which was a turning point for Paris. Also during World War II the city was almost destroyed by Bombs from the Germans but Paris had survived them. By the twenty-first century it retained its fascinating attractions, mystery, and romance from its fabulous past (“Paris”). Tribes from long ago had different religions and ways they celebrated, the Gauls religion was druidism in which they celebrated nature. In the middle of Winter a festival called “la fete du gui” (mistletoe) held place in Paris where they celebrated the new year. As Spring came around they all burned a log called “The Yule Log” which is how they celebrated the return of light after a long, dark season of Winter (“Paris”). The Eiffel Tower is one of Paris’s landmarks it is known by mostly everyone worldwide.
The tower was built in 1889 by Gustave Eiffel, located in the Invalides Quarter. It was built as a celebration of the French Revolution. Along with this there are 150 different museums in Paris, the main museums known by many people are the Louvre, the Museum d’Orsay, and the Pompidou Center. The Louvre is the largest museum in the world, its collection is composed of 35,000 pieces. The one that specializes in French impressionist art is the Museum d’Orsay. It is located in a converted railway station. Paris is the most populated city in France. The last estimate in 1997 claimed 2,152,000 inhabitants lived here but about ten million more people live in the metropolitan area (“Paris”). Many immigrated to France, mainly to Paris, after World War II, in order for them to find employment. Paris then became a mix of African and Indochinese descent even though the official language of the country was French. Parisians are of the Roman Catholic faith but Metropolis, Hindu, Jewish, Protestant Christian faith and Buddhist are also present there. Many of the French have a strong love for dogs, they are everywhere, even in the fanciest of restaurants (“Paris”). Paris is located in a region known as the ile de france along the Seine River in Northern France. Regions that are located to the South are known as The Left Bank, The Right Bank are all the regions that are to the North.
The metropolitan area covers 105 square kilometers and rises to an altitude of 129 meters above sea level at the top of the hill Montmartre (Chittom). The mainly flat land allows Paris to have a mild climate with the temperature being twenty degrees Celsius on average and sixty-eight degrees Fahrenheit in summer. In the winter the temperature averages to be about five degrees Celsius and forty-one degrees Fahrenheit (Chittom). Paris is also divided into twenty divisions called arrondissements, these divisions are numbered depending on how far away they are from the river. To begin, The 1st Arrondissement mentions that at the end of the Champs Elysees is the Louvre which is commonly talked upon to be the greatest museum in the world The Louvre looks out on the Champs Elysees to a palace called de la Concorde in which has an Egyptian oblelisk. A palace which was built by Napoleon the first was called Arc de Triomphe, it was used to commemorate his military victories. Next Follows the 2nd Arrondissement which is the stock exchanges, banks, and some wholesale fashion stores (“Paris”) A few more include the 3rd Arrondissement, this district is called Marais. Marias was the home of a big portion of the Jewish population. Its been through some urban renovation multiple times in Paris’s past. The 4th Arrondissement is an Island that is located in the middle of the River Seine called Ile de la Cite. It was the first site of Paris, it boasts the cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris, the bridge crosses the Ile, visitors can visit this place on walking tours which can also be accessible by the Metro or bus.
Lastly, The Fifth Arrondissement is home to the University of Paris located on the Left Bank. This University is the living place for students and artists who study arts and sciences. Many elegant places to eat and splendid entertainment like the comedie Francaise ( “Paris”). Paris’s Economy is made up of high finance, banking and luxury goods for tourists. Streets contain multiple high fashion designers, perfume shops and other items that are magnificent. (“Paris”). France is a country that is bureaucratic, as well as a member of the European Economic Community. Not only is Paris’s economy supported by a set subway transportation system called the Metro but a bus system is accessible anywhere in the city, as well as an International Airport called Charles De Gaulle (Chittom). Near Paris there are many factories in the suburbs that are composed of large groups of products. Paris copies many of the woman’s designers clothing from a variety of other countries (Berenson). Many stores are located here, including two department stores called Au Printemps and the Galeries Lafayette in which you can find items you need fast and easily. There are also some boutiques that are located near the end of the high-end market. These are located near the Champs Elysees in which you can find brands like Chanel, Yves St. Laurent,Cartier, Hermes, and Louis Vuitton ( “Paris”). There are also a few clothing stores. Some that become very useful to those who have a budget to stick to like the Monoprix or Prisunic, which are known to be dime stores. These stores can also sell some souvenirs that are priced both good for the customer and the store. Fine artists, often referred to as sidewalk vendors, are always showing their artwork off waiting for them to be sold. By the Seine river, the booksellers and artists can be found. The Notre Dame Cathedral has a bird market that visitors can visit on Sunday mornings where different species of exotic birds can be put up for sale such as caged canaries, finches, etc. (“Paris”). In 1828, opened a Guerlain Parfumeur Boutique on rue de Rivoli.
The cases for the perfumes were hand made by skilled artisans, Diego and Alberto Giacometti from wood and travertine marble with the light fixtures added last. The cases can hold up to one-hundred and ten fragrances. When going into this boutique the customers are able to create their own fragrances using the help of a digital perfume “organ” in the Guerlain library with the fourteen ingredients. Lastly, there’s a shop named “the 86 Champs” in which they sell luscious perfumes, Jasmin-Immortelle-Neroli and Grapefruit Rhubarb. Soaps, lotions, lip balms etc. In the second portion of the store is a fun, delicious bar and dining area for the entire family. At breakfast you can enjoy some crepes and waffles that can be made by the chefs right in front of you. (Ladonne)
