Paris

By the 1400s, **Paris** (formerly known as **Lutetia**, the city of the "Parisii", a gallic tribe) was already one of the most prosperous and influential cities in the western hemisphere. Its colleges, universities and monasteries were renowned around the world and the economy was flourishing and ensured that very few citizens were poor and forgotten compared to other cities during that time.

But Paris had not been so prosperous only several decades earlier, as epidemics, wars and uprisings had devastated the city, and over a quarter of the population had died.

May God prevent Paris from being surrendered to the disputes of the aristocracy, and that the population may never again be afflicted by plagues. The motto of the city is **Fluctuat nec mergitur** (rocked by the waves, but not sinking).

"Paris" is a rather big map with four city districts and four villages.

## Geography

The map is cut into three pieces by the river Seine. Two city districts and three villages are located on the north-east bank of the river. Another city district and another village are on the south-west bank.

The core of the city, Ile de la Cité, is on a river island between the two of them. From there, three large bridges lead to the other three city districts.

The whole city is nicely walled off, except for the banks of the river Seine. The Louvre castle has a second wall of its own.

## City Districts

### Ile de la Cité

The Ile de la Cité (literary: island of the city) (orange) was the original gallic settlement of "Lutetia". It houses one of the most famous cathedrals in the world, the "Notre Dame de Paris" with a well and the market place in front of it, and the city hall just across the main street.

The complete north-western triangle is occupied by the rather large arsenal area, which is walled off from the rest of the island. Three large bridges connect this district to the other three city districts.

### Saint-Antoine

Saint-Antoine (blue) has a lot of Paris' major buildings. First of all, the "Louvre" castle, with the execution site and the church "St. Nicholas" inside its extra walls. Directly adjacent, on the bank of the river Seine, one of the two ports can be found.

The "Church of Compassion" with market place on one, and a cemetery on the other side, form the center of the district, together with a nearby well.

The district is walled in, even seperated by a wall from its neighbour district Saint-Denis. Only the river bank is left open. The Louvre has a second wall of its own. A bridge grants access to the Ile de la Cité.

### Saint-Denis

Saint Denis (yellow) is named after the first bishop of Paris, St. Dionysius, who was buried there. The district has not much to offer, except for the church "St. George", a well, the market place, and some empty plots to build on.

The district is nicely walled in (except for the river side), and is even separated by a wall from its neighbour district Saint-Antoine. A bridge leads over to the Ile de la Cité.

### St-Germain-des-Prés

The name St-Germain-des-Prés (magenta) means Saint Jermaine (=probably the German) of the meadows, because a church was errected on the meadows there. The district has an extremely large market place with a nearby well. It houses two churches: "St. Benedict" in the south-east and "The Good Shepherd" in the north-west, plus the map's only school next to the latter.

The district is completely walled in, except for the river bank. It has a lot of empty space to build on, so it still kept the looks of "the meadows". It is connected by a bridge to the Ile de la Cité.

## Villages

**Note:** The "villages" on the map are actually cities, each about 150 kilometers from Paris in roughly the given directions.

### Rouen

The village of Rouen (= Rothomagus = market of the wheels) (pink) is located in the north-west. Part of the village is located on a hill, and protected by a stockade. The core part, namely the church "St. Ouen", the market place, and a well, are even further protected by an extra wall.

But the village has more to offer. First of all, the second port of the map, the "English Harbour of Rouen" with a nearby fishing spot on the river Seine. Hidden in the woods, an attentive player may find a grove and a mine. The lumberyard and the quarry, located between the church and the port, technically belong to the surroundings.

### Amiens

The village of Amiens (= Ambianum = settlement of the Ambiani, a gallic tribe) (green) is located north of Paris. It has a nice, compact center with cemetery, market place, well, and the church "St. Joseph". A grove and a lumberyard can be found on the outskirts of the village.

### Reims

The village of Reims (= settlement of the Remi, a gallic tribe) (cyan) is located east of Paris. Its center has a cemetery, the market place, a well, and the church "St. Helena". A brushwood, a grove, and a mine can all be found south of it.

The trade post to Aachen to the north and the fishing spot on the river Seine to the south, technically belong to the surroundings.

### Orléans

The village of Orléans (= Aurelianum = city of the Roman Emperor Aurelian) (pink) is in the south-west of the map, on the far side of the river Seine. Its center is formed by a cemetery, the market place, a well, and the church "St. Martin", as usual. In addition, a grove, a brushwood, a lumberyard, and a small pond for fishing can be found on the outskirts of the village.

**Note:** The town of Orléans was the home of the famous Jeanne d'Arc (or Saint Joan of Arc), the Maid of Orléans, who is the patron saint and heroine of France.

## Other Places

### Waterways

The waterways, the river Seine, is flowing through Paris and cuts the landscape into three pieces.

The river offers access to the long distance trade routes to London (west) and Dijon (east) using either one of the two ports in Paris and Rouen.

### Surrounding Region

Scattered around the Surrounding Region (grey), many small locations can be found: a mine, three brushwoods, two lumberyards, two fishing spots, a cemetery, and three quarries.

It also offers access to the long distance trade routes to Calais (north-west), Antwerp (north-east), Aachen (east), Tours (south).

## Trade Routes

The map offers six long distance trade routes to be opened:

* West: to London (= celtic Londonjon = place that floods periodically) via the river Seine
* East: to Dijon (= Divio, uncertain) via the river Seine
* North-west: to Calais (= settlement of the Caleti, a gallic tribe) via road
* North-east: to Antwerp (= those who live on both banks, uncertain) via road
* East: to Aachen (= river, stream) via road
* South: to Tours (= settlement of the Turones, a gallic tribe) via road

**Note:** Both trade routes using the river Seine may either be handled via the port in Paris or the other one in Rouen.

## Additional information

* Find out more about Paris on Wikipedia.
* Find out more about Rouen on Wikipedia.
* Find out more about Amiens on Wikipedia.
* Find out more about Reims on Wikipedia.
* Find out more about Orléans on Wikipedia.

Paris was last edited for version 1.0.4.

Paris was last edited for version 1.0.4.