How many years do I live in Paris in a year. The great history of Paris

France is a country of romantic and airy moods. Its heart and center of culture around the world is Paris, a city that truly incorporates all the best: architecture, historical and cultural monuments, modern fashion houses and children's entertainment complexes.

Romantic France, Paris and its attractions

Paris has been the capital of France since the 10th century. This city embodies a romantic Paradise, an ideal place for lovers and representatives of art: poets, artists, fashion designers. Here, every brick inspires, every day brings many discoveries and prepares a real holiday for the residents of the capital.

The metropolis lives day and night. It seems that people here do not sleep at all, but fall in love, have fun and just enjoy life. This place attracts tourists, first of all, with its sights: the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Champs Elysees. The list of notable places in the French capital does not end there, but only begins. In this city, any quarter is fraught with many romantic corners and architectural monuments.

Holidays in Paris - you should definitely visit the Latin Quarter, stroll along the streets of Montmartre and the embankments with second-hand booksellers. Here you can enjoy aromatic coffee in one of the cozy cafes, join the measured rhythm of the French capital. Lovers of nature and romance should visit the alleys of the Luxembourg Gardens, admire the luxury of palaces and local parks.

France, Paris - holidays for the whole family

Each street of the city keeps a lot of monuments of architecture and history, the centuries-old traditions of Paris live to this day. However, the capital of France is quite modern and is not afraid of change. Evidence of this is the Center for Contemporary Art, founded by Georges Pompidou. Here, on Stravinsky Square, a magnificent fountain flaunts, the tops of the skyscrapers of La Defense can be seen in the distance, and in front of the Louvre there are real glass pyramids. All this perfectly reflects the modern face of Paris - a bright, saturated modern technologies and flashy colors.

Even having visited Paris many times, you will not explore all its sights and interesting corners. This city will remain an unsolved mystery for you, with old cultural monuments, new fashion houses and a variety of restaurants and eateries. Everyone dreams of visiting here and seeing all this beauty with their own eyes.

France, Paris - cultured holidays

Fine restaurants and hotels

You should pay attention to the restaurant "LA FONTAINE GAILLON", located in the second arrondissement. Its owner is Gerard Depardieu, who turned out to be not only a talented actor, but also a good businessman. The institution itself is famous for its cuisine, which is dominated by seafood and fish dishes. Romantic evenings are best spent on the outdoor terrace.

Since the city of Paris, the capital of France, is visited by many tourists, many restaurants here are hotels. So, ALAIN DUCASSE, located in the 8th district, belongs to the Plaza Athenee Hotel, LES AMBASSADEURS belongs to the Crillon Hotel, and LE CINQ belongs to George V. Each of these restaurants has its own specialties, many of them provide to its visitors food prepared not only according to European, but also according to Eastern and Mediterranean recipes.

There are also many excellent hotels in Paris offering high service and excellent cuisine. So Alexandrine Balladins 2 * has a very good location, next to the Moulin Rouge, the Grand Opera, not far from the Champs Elysees. Amarante Champs Elysees 4 * is a luxurious hotel with wooden interiors. Alexander Boutique 4 * is located near the Eiffel Tower, next to the Champs Elysees and the Arc de Triomphe. All hotels in Paris deserve to be chosen by tourists to stay.

Paris vacation in France itself!

Recreation for children

For young tourists, Paris has prepared its own entertainment program, which is based on visiting numerous attractions and amusement parks. The capital of France is a Mecca of romance and adventure not only for adults but also for children. This city will be remembered by everyone - from young to old.

Parc Disneyland is located on the outskirts of the capital of France. Here are the world-famous rides, which kids from all over the world aspire to visit. The park, in turn, is divided into five parts, each of which has only themed attractions: Main Street, U.S.A., Adventureland, Fantasyland, Discoveryland and Frontierland. Parades and show programs are held here every day for children, performances of puppet theaters are held for preschool audiences.

Parc Walt Disney Studios was founded at Disneyland in 2002. This amusement park is teeming with new rides such as flying carpets and breathtaking slides. After an active program, you can watch cartoons, eat at one of the restaurants and meet your favorite Disney characters. The entertainment center will be interesting to visit for both children and their parents.

Disneyland - Paris vacation in beautiful France.

Parc Asterix - this place introduces young visitors to the adventures of the Gallic heroes Obelix and Asterix. There is even the famous Gauls village here, which is open from April to October, however, like the entire park. Of the most interesting attractions that Parc Asterix has prepared for its visitors, we should highlight the horror room, wooden roller coasters and flying chairs. Almost every day, kids can watch the performances of acrobats, enjoying complex pirouettes and perfect combinations of gymnasts.

Animal lovers can visit the Vincennes Zoo in Paris. Here, 1200 different species of animals live on 15 hectares of land. Picnics are allowed on the territory of the zoo, and its inspection takes place like a safari.

Parc Asterix - holidays in Paris, France

For future little scientists and naturalists, the Le Parc de la Villette science and technology museum is open in Paris. Each exhibit is presented here as a game module. In addition, it has a unique cinema hall, which is located in the ball. For children aged 3 to 5 and 5 to 12, the museum created " Playground» - a space for outdoor games and entertainment. All visitors to this fabulous place can visit the Argonaut - a submarine with torpedo compartments and a command cabin, here every kid can feel like if not a captain, then at least an experienced sailor.

The history of France can be explored in the largest miniature park in Europe, located near Paris. Here are 140 monuments dedicated to the most eminent characters of the country, 150 most colorful landscapes, 15 rivers and as many as 2 hectares of the sea. Visitors to this center can study the history of France, get acquainted with the legends of this country, get to know all its celebrities.

Le Parc de la Vilette - holidays in Paris, France

Who among us has not dreamed of going to Paris? Who has not dreamed of walking along the Champs Elysees or being at the very top of the Eiffel Tower? There, from where the whole city is visible, as if in the palm of your hand. One of the most famous cities in the world, Paris captivates guests from the first minute, at a glance. The turbulent past of the French capital captures and carries on its waves, revealing secrets and beckoning with something unknown.

Arriving in the city, no matter day or night, the first thing you will see is the Eiffel Tower, which, like a guardian, has been proudly towering over the city for many years. Standing on the banks of the famous Seine, the tower is a truly bewitching sight. In sunny weather, its observation platforms offer a stunning and unique view of the entire city. If the weather is cloudy, then, having risen to its top, you seem to find yourself in another, “transcendental” world. At night, the tower seems to be shrouded in radiance from millions of glowing light bulbs.

For dessert - an interesting video sketch about Paris in photos:

Paris (fr. Paris) is the capital of France, the most important economic and cultural center of the country. The French capital is one of the largest and most populous cities in the world. In the actual urban part of Paris, according to statistics, about a little more than 2 million people live, and on the outskirts in the so-called Greater Paris - more than 10 million. After London, this is the second most densely populated city in Western Europe.

Paris is located in the north-central part of France, in the Île-de-France region, on the banks of the Seine River, in a temperate zone. Virtually unscathed during the two world wars, the city center with magnificent boulevards and elegant mansions dates back to the time of Napoleon. And the monuments and museums of Paris are known all over the world. In the city you can see such world-famous monuments of history and architecture as the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Louvre Museum and the Champs Elysees, the Arc de Triomphe and Place de la Concorde. The city is also the capital of world fashion and art.

Sights of Paris
The ancient center of Paris occupies only 106 square meters. km. The growth of the city took place radially. From the island of Cité, a system of streets and highways in the form of conical rings can be traced, which have been successive since the 189th centuries. surrounded by fortified ramparts. The central part of Paris is surrounded by Grand Boulevards, laid along the line of ramparts, mainly in the 14th century. External boulevards were created along the ramparts of the 18th century. The fortifications of 1840–1845, the furthest from the city center and demolished in 1919, were located on the site of Periferik Boulevard, a ring road built after the Second World War and forming the border of the modern city.

Seine river
Conventionally, the city can be divided into two parts: left-bank and right-bank. Government agencies concentrated in the central western regions left bank of the Seine. The Latin Quarter, south of the Cité, houses university buildings and publishing houses. Business offices, luxury shops and places of entertainment are located mainly on the right bank of the Seine, in the central and western parts Paris. Many monuments are concentrated on the right bank of the Seine in the western part of Paris. On the Square of the Star is Triumphal Arch- the second most important symbol of Paris after the Eiffel Tower. 12 wide avenues diverge from the square in all directions. The most famous of them is the Champs-Elysées, which connects the Place des Stars and the Place de la Concorde. Here are the theater on the Champs Elysees, the famous "Lido" and "Krezi Horse". To the north of the Champs Elysees rises the Champs Elysees - the current residence of the presidents of France, and the Grand Palace is located symmetrically to it with respect to the Champs Elysees. To the north of Zvezda Square, on the small Rue Daru, is the most famous Russian church in Paris - the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.

The wide rue Royal leads from the Place de la Concorde to the church of St. Magdalene (Madeleine). From west to east, from Place de la Madeleine to Place de la République, a chain of Grands Boulevards stretches, which then descend south to Place de la Bastille. Not far from the Boulevard des Capucines is the pompous building of the State Opera and Ballet Theater "Grand Opera" (the official name is the National Academy of Music and Dance), designed by the architect Charles Garnier.

Belly of Paris
On the right bank of the Seine, west of the Ile de la Cité, is the heart of Paris: the Central Market, the Tuileries Garden, Carousel Square and the Louvre - a former royal palace that houses the world's largest museum. Opposite the Louvre is the Palais Royal, built in the 17th century. for Cardinal Richelieu. Here is the National Library. To the north of the Tuileries is the most luxurious place in Paris - Vendôme. The Bourse and the Bank of France form the core of the business district, which extends north to the Gare Saint-Lazare and south to the Champs Elysées.

To the east of the Louvre along Rivoli Street is the City Hall, built in the 19th century. in the French Renaissance style. To the north of the City Hall is the Center for Art and Culture. Georges Pompidou (Center Beaubourg). Further east, just north of Rivoli Street - Place des Vosges, even further north - Place de la Bastille, on which there was once a medieval fortress, and later a prison, destroyed at the beginning of the French Revolution. On the eastern outskirts of Paris live mainly workers and small merchants. These are the most densely populated quarters of the city.

At the eastern end of The majestic Cathedral of Notre Dame (Notre Dame) rises in the Cité. At the western tip of the island is the elegant Place Dauphine. Nearby is the Palace of Justice - a complex ensemble of buildings, mainly dating back to the 18th century. A pedestrian bridge connects the eastern end of the island with the small island of Saint-Louis, a favorite vacation spot for numerous artists and wealthy Parisians. Elegant mansions of the 17th century have been preserved here. An exciting walk through the two central islands of Paris can be made by walking from the Pont Sully, located on the eastern part of Saint-Louis, to the oldest in the city, Pont Neuf, in the west of the Ile de la Cité.

Bohemian Paris Montmartre
Beyond the Outer Boulevards in the northern part of the city lies the picturesque district of Montmartre, which occupies the highest hill in Paris. It is a haven for artists, actors, writers and poets. The world-famous Moulin Rouge is located here. At the top of Montmartre stands the Sacré-Coeur Basilica, a dazzling white church built in the Romanesque-Byzantine style.

There are few spacious squares on the left bank of the Seine, but many beautiful buildings and picturesque quarters. Here lies the Latin Quarter, which has long been the core of the University of Paris. Now it is a recognized center of Parisian bohemia. To the east of Boulevard Saint-Michel is the Cluny mansion, and nearby, in a labyrinth of narrow streets, is the church of Saint-Sevrin. Here are the churches of Saint-Medar and Saint-Étienne-du-Mont. Near the Cluny mansion is the holy of holies of students - the Sorbonne. Nearby, on the Great People's Square, stands the Pantheon - a tomb for prominent figures of France.

Montparnasse
To the west of Boulevard Saint-Michel, opposite the Sorbonne, are the beautiful Luxembourg Park and the Luxembourg Palace, seat of the Senate. To the south, beyond the ring of the Outer Boulevards, lies the Montparnasse district, where, like Montmartre, artists and artists flock. This is the center of life of today's bohemia in Paris.

Cemeteries of Paris
From the east, the Outer Boulevards adjoin the largest and most famous cemetery in Paris, Père Lachaise, where they finished their life path many prominent figures of culture and art.

In the west there is a sad place, a kind of cemetery - the Catacombs. Not far from the Seine, on the boulevard Saint-Germain, is the oldest church in Paris, Saint-Germain-des-Pres.

New life for palaces
Of particular interest are the buildings of government offices and embassies. The Palais d'Orsay, where the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is now located, and the Palace of Bourbon, the seat of the National Assembly of France.

At the top of the esplanade, descending down to the Seine, rises one of the most remarkable architectural ensembles of Paris - Les Invalides, which houses the Military Museum with a magnificent collection of weapons, armor, uniforms and military relics. Not far from Les Invalides is the Military School, the headquarters of UNESCO, as well as the Biron mansion, where the Rodin Museum is located today. The Champ de Mars, a former training ground for military parades and now a regular park, extends northwest of the Military School and descends to the Seine. Near the river rises the famous Eiffel Tower - the symbol of Paris. Opposite the tower, on the other side of the Seine, is the Place du Trocadéro, where the Palace of Chaillot is located.

Museums
In Paris, there is an incredible number of interesting museums and exhibitions with unique collections. Magnificent exhibitions of contemporary art in the "Gallery of the ball game" in the Tuileries. Amazing collections are presented at the Museum of Decorative Arts, the Museum of Holography and the Grevin Forum. The Museum of Advertising on Rivoli Street is very curious. Of course, the Picasso Museum and the Carnavalet Museum, located in the architectural ensemble "Grand Carnavalet", and, of course, the museum of the great Edith Piaf, the "sparrow", a native of Paris, are worthy of attention. Remarkable museums of technology, Cognac-Jay, hunting and nature, as well as the Museum of Magic and Curiosity.

Be sure to take a walk through the Botanical Garden, which is already seven hundred years old. It contains about 10,000 plant species. Visit a museum romantic life dedicated to George Sand, and the Silver Tower, the most famous Parisian restaurant, which houses the Table Museum, which tells about antique objects and serving devices.

Numismatists will be interested in visiting the Conti embankment and admiring the collection of the Museum of Coins. At the Museum of Pharmacy, you can get acquainted with ancient tools and a full range of herbal medicines. The beautiful Perfume Museum on Rue Scrib tells the history of fragrances since ancient egypt. Of interest are the Grevin Museum with 500 wax figures and the museum-workshop of the artist Gustave Moreau. The entire history of Freemasonry is presented in the Grand Orient Museum on Kade Street.

In the thirteenth arrondissement of Paris is the famous royal tapestry manufactory, presenting masterpieces of ancient and modern work.

The Paris Observatory (the first in the world) has a rich collection of astronomical instruments. The Lenin Museum is located on Marie-Rose Street. He lived in this house for three years.

Take a look at the Pasteur Museum, which is located in the scientist's apartment, and the Postal Museum on Rue Vaugirard, which displays the uniforms of postmen from around the world, antique mailboxes and tells about the history of the postal service. Don't forget to visit the Museum of Fair Arts. The house-museum of Balzac, the Museum of handicrafts, the Museum of antique glasses and lorgnettes, which contains 3000 of the rarest exhibits, and, of course, the Museum of Wine in the Echanzon tavern, are very interesting.

Of course, during a short stay in Paris it is impossible to see all its sights and beauties. In order to get to know Paris for real, two lives are not enough.

History of Paris
The city of all times and peoples, Paris has preserved both evidence of the distant past and the romanticism of modern times. The city was founded in the middle of the 3rd century BC. e. from the Celtic settlement of Lutetia of the tribe of the Parisians on the site of the modern island of Cité. The first written mention of Lutetia is found in the 6th book of Julius Caesar on the war with Gaul in 53 BC. e. When in 52 B.C. e. the Romans, after the first unsuccessful attempt, tried to approach the city for the second time, the Parisians set fire to Lutetia and destroyed the bridges. The Romans left them an island and built it on the left bank of the Seine. new town. There they erected baths, a forum and an amphitheater. In the Roman Empire, the city did not have much influence.

Roman rule ended by 508, when Paris became the capital of the Merovingian Frankish dynasty under the rule of Clovis I. During the reign of the Carolingians, the city was again attacked by the Normans. The Capetians made Paris the capital of France. Under Philip II Augustus, the defense of the city was strengthened: in 1190 a wall was built on the right bank of the Seine, and in 1210 on the left bank. By order of Philip, the Louvre was erected on the western outskirts of Paris.

In 1181 the first covered market opened, and in 1301 a royal palace was built on the island of Cité. In the southern part of the city, the Sorbonne was formed from the merger of several small schools. Charles V ordered that the wall on the left bank be renewed to protect against the British; in 1370 he ordered the construction of another wall on the right bank at the site of today's Grand Boulevards. During the Hundred Years' War, Paris was occupied from 1420 to 1436 by the British.

During Huguenot wars from 1562 to 1598 the city was in the power of the Catholics. On St. Bartholomew's night, August 24, 1572, thousands of Huguenots were killed. By order Louis XIV street lighting was installed, the water supply system was updated and the hospitals Les Invalides and Salpetri were built. The city walls were demolished and "Grand Boulevards" were built in their place. The residence of the king moved to Versailles, but Paris still remained political center France, thanks to the growing population and the leading role of Paris in the country's economy.

During the French Revolution (1789), the monarchy was abolished, which led to the establishment of the First Republic. In 1844, for defensive purposes, on the site of today's ring road around the city ("periphery"), fortifications 39 km long were erected. With 94 bastions and 16 forts, it was the largest defensive structure in the world.

In 1855, 1867, 1878, 1889, 1900 and 1937, the World Exhibitions were held in Paris, which once again emphasized the cultural and political influence of the city. After the decline of the Second Empire and the capture of Paris German troops The Paris Commune, made up of workers, artisans and petty bourgeois, opposed the provisional conservative government of the republic. In the 90s of the 19th century and the first decade of the 20th century, also known as the "Belle Epoque" (La Belle Epoque), France experienced an unprecedented rise and economic development. In 1900 and 1924, the II and VIII Olympic Games were held in Paris. In 1921, the population of Paris exceeded three million people.

During the Second World War, the city was occupied by the German Wehrmacht, the occupation lasted until the end of August 1944

The May events in France in 1968 caused a wave of riots and demonstrations and ultimately led to a change of government. In the mid-80s, unrest periodically arose in Paris; the rebels were mostly residents of the areas adjacent to Paris, inhabited by immigrants. In 2005, the most devastating riots took place, which soon spread to other cities in France.

View of the center of Paris from the Eiffel Tower:

The capital of France is one of the most beautiful and romantic cities in the world. Every year, millions of tourists come to admire this ancient city. Where is Paris located? The city is located in the north-east of the country, in the district of Ile-da-France - one of the densely populated districts of France. Paris is located in a lowland on the banks of the Seine, which washes the banks of the city for eight kilometers.

The city was founded in the III century BC. fishermen who formed the settlement of Lutetia on the banks of the Seine. In the 5th century AD Clovis made Paris the capital Frankish state, and from the XII century the city became the capital of France.

Features of Paris

The island of Cité became the heart of Paris. Today, Notre Dame Cathedral stands in that place, and it was here that the first tribal settlements were discovered. The oldest district of the city is the Montmartre district, which is located in the historical part of the French capital, where there are a lot of different architectural sights. Our article will help you create an interesting tour plan for this city.

Today, Paris has become a major center of European life. It houses 220 different international organizations and companies. Paris has become one of the favorite cities for honeymoon trips and romantic weekends.

Paris is one of the main transport hubs in Europe. There are four airports in the vicinity of the city, two of which are the largest in Europe - these are Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports. There are also good rail links with all European capitals and many cities in the world.

There are 454 kilometers between London and Paris. Moscow is located at a distance of 2828 kilometers from Paris. The nearest European capital is Brussels (Belgium), located three hundred kilometers from Paris.

If you are going to Paris, read our article. Our tips will help you choose an interesting souvenir.

General information about the city

Paris (Paris) is the capital of France, the most important economic and cultural center of Europe, located in the north of the central part of France, in the Ile-de-France region, on the banks of the Seine River.

Paris is not just a city. This is a dream, this is a living legend, this is "a holiday that is always with you." He is both the keeper of history, and the personification of modernity, and the creator of the future. Paris belongs not only to France, it belongs to the whole world, it is loved not only by Parisians, but also by residents of different parts of the world. Everyone seeks and finds something different in Paris.

“Paris is so well described,” Baron Pelnitz remarked in 1732, “so much has been said about it that even those who have never seen the city know what it looks like.” More than two centuries have passed since the writing of this phrase, but nothing has changed. The main symbols of Paris - Notre Dame Cathedral, the Church of Saint-Germain-des-Pres, the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe are also known to those who have never been to it. Paris exists in their imagination as real as it does in reality.

Paris is the capital of France, administrative, political and industrial centre, in which the financial and commercial activities of the country are concentrated. Paris is also the center of the cultural and intellectual life of France.

Paris is located in the geographical center of the northern part of the country on the banks of the Seine River and 145 kilometers from the English Channel. It is located in the center of a vast chalk basin - the Paris Basin, about 65 meters above sea level. The basin is drained not only by the Seine, but also by its numerous tributaries, including the Marne and the Oise.

The region surrounding Paris is located in the heart of France.

Since the 6th century, it has occupied this privileged position, since even then it became the core of the kingdom of the Franks. Rich agricultural lands, picturesque plains, green forests, temperate climate, convenient transport routes - all this provided the region with dominance over other French provinces.

IN late XVIII century, the entire territory of the country was divided into about 90 departments, which made it difficult to accurately determine the boundaries of the area, which for a long time was called the "Paris region". But in 1976, France was divided into 26 regions, each of which included several departments. The Paris region was officially returned to its historical name of Ile-de-France. Today, the region includes Paris and seven other departments surrounding the French capital. The region is governed by the Regional Council, which is elected for a six-year term and works closely with the Committee for Economic and Social Affairs.

Konstantin Paustovsky wrote: “The charm of Paris takes possession of you suddenly, as soon as you touch the Parisian land. But only if you knew Paris and loved it long before this first meeting. For those who know Paris from books, from painting, from the total amount of knowledge about it, this city immediately opens up, as if covered with a bronze reflection of its majestic history, the brilliance of glory and human genius ... "

The boundaries of the city are outlined by Periferik Boulevard - a ring highway. The territory of Paris includes the Bois de Boulogne located to the west of the city and the Bois de Vincennes located to the east. The area of the city is 105 km2.

“If you are lucky and you lived in Paris in your youth, then wherever you are later, he will remain with you until the end of your days, because Paris is a holiday that is always with you.”

E. Hemingway.

The Seine River flows through the city from east to west, on the right northern bank dominated by the hill of Montmartre. On the left bank, the dominant vertical is the Montparnasse Tower. In the center of Paris, the river splits into branches, washing two islands - the island of Cité and the island of St. Louis (Saint-Louis). Another island - Lebyazhy, is located in the western part of the city.

In modern France, there is a parliament, government and president.

Parliament is represented by two chambers: the National Assembly, which discusses and adopts laws, and the Senate, which performs an advisory function. The National Assembly is elected for a five-year term, while members of the Senate are elected for nine years. The National Assembly meets in the Bourbon Palace overlooking the Place de la Concorde, and the Senate in the Luxembourg Palace.

The Paris meridian, which was defined in 1718 by Jacques Cassini and measured more precisely in 1806 by the French physicist Arago, was the prime meridian until 1884. It passes through the Paris Observatory and is marked with bollards throughout Paris, as well as with special marks on pavements, sidewalks and buildings, including the Louvre.

The government is headed by the prime minister, who is appointed by the president. The government is accountable to the National Assembly. The residence of the Prime Minister is located in the Hotel Matignon in the Faubourg Saint-Germain district.

The President of the Republic is elected for 7 years. The president not only appoints the prime minister, but also presides over cabinet meetings and is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The President serves as the guarantor of the independence of the judiciary and is given special powers in emergency situations. The official residence of the president is the Elysee Palace.

All the political parties and trade unions actively participating in the political life of the country, as well as national print media, are located in Paris. The capital also hosts embassies from around the world and the headquarters of major international organizations such as UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) and OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development). Paris often hosts international congresses, meetings and conferences.

Since 1977, Paris has enjoyed the unique privilege of a dual status in terms of administrative-territorial division: it is both a commune and a department. Like a commune, or municipality, Paris has its own mayor and is divided into 20 arrondissements with their own prefects. The mayor of Paris is elected by the city council for a term of 6 years.

“Paris conquers from the first day of the meeting! Literally after an hour of being in it, you feel easy and simple, as with an old friendly friend. The charm of this wonderful city is in its soft cheerfulness and lightness, amazing lightness in everything! And, above all, in the architecture of its countless palaces and squares, mansard roofs, in its boulevards ... In the friendly life of the streets, in witty, sociable people, in the climate, finally!

Georgy Zhzhenov, actor. From the book "Experienced".

Paris received the status of a department after the formation of the Île-de-France region. With the advent of new departments, the department of the Seine, with its main city of Paris, and several departments around the capital were transformed. Paris, home to one fifth of the region's population, was given the status of an independent department governed by the Council of Paris.

Local self-government received real power and shared responsibility with the state for the greatest architectural heritage of Paris.

The modern architectural appearance of Paris took shape by the middle of the 19th century, when work was carried out on the reconstruction of the capital. At this time, the main greened Champs-Elysées Avenue, new highways, two large forest parks - the Bois de Boulogne and the Bois de Vincennes - were created.

Truly magnificent are the world-famous masterpieces of Paris architecture: Notre Dame Cathedral, the Louvre Palace Ensemble, the Luxembourg Palace and the Palais-Royal Palace, the ensemble of Les Invalides.

In the 18th century, the central architectural ensemble of Paris was created - Place de la Concorde, recognized as one of the most beautiful in the world. In the second half of the 18th century, the Pantheon was built - the tomb of the great people of France. In the first half of the 19th century, the city was decorated with triumphal buildings in the Empire style: the arch on the Carousel Square and the Arc de Triomphe on the Place de l'Etoile. 12 avenues diverge from the Place de l'Etoile ("star"). In the skyline of Paris, an important place belongs to the Eiffel Tower - a 300-meter metal structure built on the occasion of the 1889 World Exhibition.

The last decades have changed Paris: entire districts, which had been in a deplorable state for a long time, were either restored, for example, the Marais quarter, or completely reconstructed - like the area of the former Les Alles Central Market. The redevelopment of the eastern districts was begun on the basis of the latest principles of urban development. Thus, the northeastern district of La Villette was turned into the largest cultural center of the capital.

“Anyone who plunges into the abyss of Paris experiences dizziness. There is nothing more fantastic, more tragic, more majestic."

Victor Hugo

The population of Paris exceeds 2 million people. The population census in 1999 showed that 2,125,246 people live in the capital, on a land area of 10,540 hectares, that is, more than 20,000 inhabitants per square kilometer. This is the highest population density in France. True, the areas within Paris differ in population density. The most populated districts are XV, XVIII, XX, and the least populated are I, II, IV. Paris is a fairly young city with a lower death rate than the rest of France.

"Paris is the world, all other lands are only its suburbs."

Pierre Marivaux, French playwright and novelist.

Paris and its environs is a zone of intense economic activity. Most industrial enterprises are located in the western and northern suburbs of Paris, mainly along the banks of the Seine and along the Canal Saint-Denis. The leading branches of heavy industry are represented by large enterprises, such as automobile factories, electrical engineering enterprises, and rubber factories. Developed industries such as mechanical engineering, metalworking, automotive, electrical and electronic industries.

Of great importance are the aviation industry, machine tool building, the production of precision mechanics and optics, the military industry and other branches of engineering. The main branches of the chemical industry are rubber, fine chemicals (pharmaceuticals, photographic materials), plastics production.

Thanks to the concentration of national and international firms in the city, Paris provides about a third of the country's GDP. One of the problems of the city remains unemployment, the level of which corresponds to the unemployment rate in all of France.

Paris is an international trendsetter with a well-developed clothing industry. The production of toilet articles, haberdashery and jewelry, souvenirs is world famous. The paper, printing, furniture and food industries, the production of building materials and the construction industry have received great development.

Half of all banks in the country are concentrated in Paris. It plays a leading role in the internal and foreign trade France. Large trade fairs are regularly held here. The city is visited by millions of foreign tourists every year.

Paris is the main transport hub of France, important international routes pass through it.

Railway lines of 6 Parisian stations connect the capital with all regions of France and neighboring countries. Communication between the stations is well established with the help of public transport.

Saint-Lazare - Normandy, UK (to Dieppe, then by ferry).

North Station - northbound (high-speed train TGV), UK (Eurostar), Belgium and Holland (Thalys - via Brussels to Cologne and Amsterdam), Scandinavian countries.

Vostochny station - east direction, Germany, Switzerland, Austria.

Gare de Lyon - Regions Center and South East (TGV), Alps, Italy, Greece.

Station Austerlitz - southwest direction (TGV), Spain, Portugal.

Gare Montparnasse - Brittany and the West of France (TGV).

For cargo transportation, the Le Bourget stations, located in the commune of the same name, and Vaires, with the Grand Ring Road (Grande Ceinture) running from it, are used.

The most important car roads and inland waterways. The Seine has been canalized as far as Rouen and is accessible to ships with a displacement of up to 2,000 tons. Through a system of canals coming from the Seine and its tributaries, Paris is connected to the rivers Rhine, Rhone, Loire, and also to the northern industrial region. The main cargoes moving on water are building materials, oil products, coal, and metals. The main port is Gennevilliers.

Paris is a major hub for international air lines. Paris is served by three international airports and 155 airlines. Airport "Charles de Gaulle" occupies the third place in Europe in terms of the number of passengers. Orly Airport primarily handles domestic flights to and from southern countries. The older Le Bourget Airport is used mainly by private jets and smaller airlines.

Paris has an extensive network of metro lines and bus routes.

The most convenient and fastest transport in Paris is the metro, consisting of 16 lines (14 full and 2 supplementary; some lines have branchings at the ends) with a total length of 212.5 km, which makes it one of the largest in the world.

There is also a regional express metro (RER) - commuter train lines that run underground in Paris and intersect with metro lines. The RER network consists of 5 lines, labeled A, B, C, D, E.

Since 1992, tram lines, which were destroyed in the 60s and 70s, began to be built again in Paris.

The Parisian tram network consists of four lines, three of which connect the Parisian suburbs, and only one (TK) runs within the city.

Paris has an extensive bus network. It includes not only ordinary buses, but also special lines that run along the tourist routes of Paris.

The appearance of Paris was changed in the middle of the 19th century as a result of a grand rebuilding. For many centuries before that, it was a labyrinth of narrow streets and wooden houses. In 1852, Baron Haussmann's plan to improve the city destroyed entire blocks of dilapidated buildings, and in their place appeared wide avenues and neoclassical stone buildings lined up in a single line.

The requirements of the times of Napoleon III for the development of Paris have not lost their relevance even now: the height and dimensions of buildings are subject to a single law of uniformity, and since the middle of the 19th century only a few exceptions to these rules have been made.

Paris is a city that is a living museum. He preserves his great heritage, makes it the property of the whole world. A significant number of different organizations have moved or are planning to move to convenient suburbs. Already outside historic city are the business district of Defense, a large food market (Rangi district), important educational institutions (Polytechnic Institute), known throughout the world scientific laboratories, sports facilities and even ministries (for example, the Ministry of Transport).

District Defense

Paris is a city of students. The most prestigious educational institutions in France are located in its capital. It houses the University of Paris, the College de France, the Higher Practical School, the National Polytechnic Institute, the Higher Normal School, the Higher National School technical education, over 40 so-called independent institutes, 2 conservatories (dramatic art and music), the Louvre School, the National Higher School of Fine Arts and other educational institutions.

Sorbonne

The Sorbonne, which became more and more popular after its foundation, eventually became the largest and most prestigious educational institution in Paris and France. Around the Sorbonne, the famous Latin Quarter was formed, whose name then spread to the student quarters of other cities.

The Sorbonne University, named after its founder Robert de Sorbonne, confessor of King Louis IX, dates back to 1258. IN early XIX in. The Sorbonne gradually gained true fame, reaching its apogee by the beginning of the 20th century.

The university building was rebuilt in 1884–1901. designed by the architect Eno. From the boulevard Saint-Germain, a magnificent staircase leads to the monumental hall of the Rector of the Paris Academy, which is also located in this building. In a rectangular courtyard, next to the statues of the romantic poet Victor Hugo and the philosopher Victor Cousin, there is a church where the ashes of Cardinal Richelieu, sometimes called the “second founder” of the university, are buried.

In 1972, the Sorbonne, or the University of Paris, was reorganized into 13 universities, differing in areas of study. They belong to 3 academies of Paris and Ile-de-France. Four of these universities are located mainly in the historical buildings of the Sorbonne, the rest - in other quarters of Paris and its suburbs. Sorbonne Universities have authority all over the world.

The Pantheon-Sorbonne, also called Paris I, owes its name to the Pantheon Square where it is located. About 40 thousand students study here. The university includes the faculties of law, economics, art history and archeology, fine arts and art history, business law, administration and management, international and European relations, geography, history, philosophy, political sciences, social sciences, common law, mathematics and computer science. Its structure also includes four institutes (demography of Paris, economic and social development, social issues of labor, tourism) and a network of specialized higher educational institutions engaged in training in banking, finance and insurance.

The University of Paris II, or the University of Paris Panthéon-Assas, is a state French university, the main successor of the Faculty of Law of the University of Paris. Assas is the best law university in France. 80% of the total number of students study at the faculties of law, 11% of the total number study at the faculties of management and economics.

New Sorbonne - University Paris III, located on Sorbonne Street, has a pronounced humanitarian focus. About 20 thousand students study here at the faculties of French and Latin languages and literature, general and applied linguistics and phonetics, general and comparative literature, teaching French as a foreign German language, the English-speaking world, Hispanic studies and countries Latin America, regional studies of Italy and Romania, oriental studies and Arabic studies, theater studies, film studies, mass media. There are two specialized educational institutions at the university: the Institute of Latin American Countries and the Graduate School of Translators.

The University of Paris-Sorbonne, or Paris IV, is located on rue Victor Cousin and has over 25,000 students. This educational institution includes the faculties of French literature, French language, Latin language, Greek, in English and countries North America, Italian and Romanian languages, Slavic, Hispanic and Latin American studies, history, geography, philosophy, art history and archeology, music and musicology, applied humanities. Created at the university Research institute for the study of civilizations of the modern West, as well as the Higher School of Information Sciences and Communication. Institute of Religious Studies, Institute of Physical Culture and Sports.

René Descartes University, aka Paris V University, is located on rue École de Medein. The number of students is about 30 thousand. The university includes faculties and departments of biomedicine, childhood diseases, dental surgery, physical education and sports, pharmacy and biology, mathematics and computer science, humanities and social sciences, psychology, and law. A separate structure is the Institute of Technology (with the status of a university), which has a department of medical law.

All universities are connected into a single whole by a network of organizations and institutions general purpose- such as, for example, the Center for Professional Development, the Center for Career Guidance, the Inter-University Center for Physical Education and Sports.

In the system of the University of Paris, a special place is occupied by higher schools(Grandes Ecoles). Their diploma is highly regarded in France. The first of them were created even before the French Revolution: the School of Mines - in 1783, the Royal School of Bridge and Road Construction - a year later. As a rule, the path to big business and big politics lies through them. The most famous higher schools are Ecole Normale Superieure, where future teachers are trained. Higher Agronomic School (Ecole Nationale Superieure Agronomique), Higher Commercial School (Ecoles des Hautes Etudes Commerciales), Polytechnic School (Ecole Polytechnique), Central School of Civil Engineers (Ecole Centrale des Arts et Manufactures), Military Combined Arms School (Ecole Speciale Militaire Interarmes) .

The Library of the University of Paris opened its doors for the first time on December 3, 1770. Then it contained 20 thousand volumes, which was quite a lot for those times. Access to this treasury of knowledge from the very first days was open not only for students and teachers, but for everyone. The library funds, constantly replenished, reached by 1936 an impressive figure of a million volumes. By 1997, the number of books had tripled. Today, the Sorbonne Library is the world's largest collection of the intellectual heritage of all mankind.

The Institute of France (Institut de France) is also located in Paris, consisting of 5 academies, the main and most prestigious of which is the French Academy (Academie fran^aise), which became part of the Institute in 1803. Since that time, it has been located in the building of the College of the Four Nations “College des Quatre Nations” opposite the Louvre. In Paris, there is a French page - x. Academy, Academy of Architecture, Academy of Surgery, Maritime Academy, Academy of the Latin World, National Academy of Medicine and other academies, research institutes and scientific societies in all branches of scientific knowledge.

Paris is also the largest libraries in France - the National Archives and the National Library, as well as about 50 libraries of academies, universities, research institutes and scientific societies.

The most a big library Paris - The National Library of France, founded in 1368 by King Charles V from his personal library in the Louvre. At the time of its foundation, the library consisted of only 911 manuscripts, since in those days it was customary to destroy all his documents after the death of the monarch. This custom was violated by Louis XI, from whom the expansion of the fund began. On July 14, 1988, President François Mitterrand announced the construction of a new building for the National Library, which began in December 1990. The building was designed by the architect Dominique Perrault and commissioned on December 20, 1996. Now the library has more than 10 million printed publications.

The National Archives of France, located in the Soubise mansion, in addition to manuscripts and documents of the French kings, contains the most important documents related to the history of France, for example, a letter from Joan of Arc or an order to take Robespierre into custody Paris is interesting museums world - the Louvre Museum, the Carnavalet Museum (the history of Paris), the Museum of Modern Art, the Rodin Museum, the National Museum of Natural History and many other museums.

Opened in 1793 in the former residence of the French kings, the Louvre Museum contains one of the largest and most important collections in the world. The collection consists of 30,000 exhibits from ancient times to the end of the 19th century. The museum building is located in the very center of Paris between the right bank of the Seine and Rivoli Street.

The Musee d'Orsay is located in the building of the former Orsay railway station on the right bank of the Seine opposite the Tuileries Gardens. The station building was designed by Victor Lalu in 1900 for communication between Paris and Orleans, but was closed in 1939 and in 1978 received the status of a historical monument. From 1980 to 1986, under the leadership of Gae Aulenti, the building was converted into a new museum. The Musée d'Orsay is famous for its collection of French Impressionist works. At the same time, paintings, sculptures, photographs and furniture from the period 1848-1914 of all possible directions of art are exhibited here.

Center Georges Pompidou

Built in 1977 by Renzo Piano, Richard Rogers and Gianfranco Franchini Cultural Center Georges Pompidou is the main center of contemporary art in France. The building houses not only a museum of modern art, but also a library, cinema halls, bookstores and children's art studios.

The Picasso Museum is one of the most beautiful museums in Paris. The exposition consists of works by Picasso himself, as well as a collection of works by other artists he collected - Georges Braque, Paul Cezanne, Henri Matisse and Amedeo Modigliani. The museum is housed in the Salé mansion built in 1656-1659 in the Marais quarter.

The medieval palace of the abbots of Cluny now houses the Museum of the Middle Ages (Cluny Museum) with a collection of medieval art objects.

Interior of the Picasso Museum

For the World Exhibition of 1900, the Great and Small Palaces were designed as exhibition halls. The Grand Palace not only exhibits art, but also hosts various fairs, exhibitions, such as an automobile exhibition. In the Small Palace, they found a place for a collection of paintings of the French and Italian Renaissance, as well as paintings by Flemish and Dutch masters.

Theatrical Paris is more than 60 theaters - Grand Opera, Comedie Francaise and other theaters.

The Paris Opera is playing important role in the development of operatic art Opened in 1875 and named after the architect, the Opéra Garnier is the largest opera house in the world. The "new opera", Opéra Bastille, has been in existence since 1989. She is technically well equipped. Since the opening of the new opera, the Palais Garnier has been used mainly for ballet performances and classical opera performances. Opéra Bastille has its own ballet company and a ballet school.

Medieval Museum

The famous theater Comédie Française, which arose in 1680 as a result of the merger of the former theater of Moliere with several theater companies, is still popular. On the stage of the Comédie Francaise, such outstanding artists as Sarah Bernhardt and Jean-Louis Barrault played. Today the theater performs mainly with the classical repertoire.

The Théâtre des Champs Elysées, built between 1911 and 1913 by Auguste Perret and the Belgian Henri van de Velde, is known for its architecture and sometimes scandalous performances.

For fans of variety shows in Paris, a large number of cabarets are open. The most famous of them are the Moulin Rouge, Lido and Paradise Latin in the Latin Quarter. Parisian cabarets are famous for their cancan.

Rock concerts are most often held in the Zenith concert hall in La Villette park or in Bercy park.

The French telecommunications market is located in Paris. The largest concerns in this market include Vivendi Universal, Groupe Lagardere, Groupe TF1. In Paris, there are publishers of the largest daily newspapers Le Figaro, Le Monde, Liberation and many other publishers.

The best time to visit Paris is from April to October (especially the spring and autumn months). In Paris, the coldest month is January and the warmest is July. August in Paris is hot and stuffy, which is why most Parisians take vacations during this time and leave the city. Many establishments are closed during this time. But then the city is flooded with tourists who came from different countries world to explore Parisian sights.

Winter in Paris is mild, it rarely snows. The temperature almost never drops below -10 °C.

More than 300,000 foreigners live in Paris. These are mainly immigrants from Africa, Turkey, Portugal, Spain and Asian countries.

80% of Parisians are baptized and 75% identify themselves as Catholics. Most of them are Catholics of the Latin rite, some are adherents of the Armenian and Ukrainian rites. In total, there are 94 Catholic communities in Paris, 15 Orthodox churches, 7 synagogues, 2 mosques.

Paris is the hometown of many worldwide famous people. However, the history of Paris was made not only by native Parisians, but by thousands of provincials and foreigners who came to Paris and made it their hometown.

Paris has hosted two Summer Olympics, 1900 and 1924. In addition, the city competed for the right to host the 2012 Summer Olympics but lost to London.

Traditionally held in Paris The final stage Tour de France: Since 1975, the last kilometers of the race have been run along the Champs Elysées. Paris hosts the French Open every year, one of the four Grand Slam tournaments. author Yudin Alexander Vasilievich

General information Geography Khakassia is located in the south-west of Eastern Siberia in the left-bank part of the Yenisei basin. The territory of Khakassia (61.9 thousand km?) occupies a significant part of the Minusinsk basin. The length from north to south is 460 km, from west to east in the most