Paris

The Eiffel Tower

**Paris** is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,102,650 as of 1 Jan. 2023, making up about 19% of the French population. It is the 4th most-populated city in the European Union. Since the 17th century, Paris has been one of the world's major centres of finance, diplomacy, commerce, culture, fashion, and gastronomy.

## Brief History

The history of Paris dates back over 2,000 years. The first known settlement in the current location of Paris was the Gaullic town of Lutetia, established in the 3rd century BCE by the Parisii tribe. There may have been a neolithic settlement in the same location as early as 8,000 BCE, but little is known about it.

When the Romans conquered Gaul, they turned Lutetia into the capital of the Gallia Lugdunensis province. By the end of the Western Roman Empire, the city had become known as "Parisus" in Latin, which later became "Paris" in French.

In 508, the Germanic tribe known as the Franks established Paris as their capital, united under King Clovis. It became a wealthy city, making it a prime target for Vikings, who sacked the city in 845. They returned in 856 and 861, but were driven back by the Franks. They laid siege to the city in 885, but were defeated by Count Odo of Paris, who was later elected king of West Francia.

By the 12th century, Paris had become the dominant city in France. It was during this period that many well-known architectural projects began, such as the Cathédrale Notre-Dame in 1163 and the Louvre in 1190, as well as the Université de Paris that same year. In the early 14th century, Paris had a population of 200,000 and was the largest city in Europe. However, the plague of 1348 - 1349 killed a quarter of the population.

Between 1420 and 1436, Paris was ruled by the English. Henry VI was crowned King of France in 1431. Skipping forward, in the late 17th century, Louis XIV constructed the Palace of Versailles. Louis XV built the Champs-Élysées as part of the expansion of the city.

The Revolution of 1789 (commonly known as the "French Revolution") brought radical changes to the city, and a reign of terror. There were beheadings in public squares, including that of the king. In 1795, the city was divided into 12 arrondissements. Today, there are 20.

The year 1870 saw the removal of Napoleon III and the siege of Paris during the Franco-Prussian war. The Eiffel Tower was built in 1889, intended as a temporary structure for the World's Fair.

During WWI, Paris came close to being occupied by the Germans, but was saved due to the First Battle of the Marne, where 600 Parisian taxis shuttled 6,000 soldiers to the front lines. During WWII, Paris was occupied by Nazi Germany (June 1940), until 1945.

Today, Paris is one of the most visited cities in the world, with an estimated 18 million people visiting annually. The current population is 2.1 million. A 2009 study found Paris to be the 3rd most economically powerful city in the world, after New York City and London.

## Locations Within Paris

* Champs-Élysées (Noël's flat is located on the end of Champs-Élysées)
* Bagneux (Will's flat is on Avenue Albert Petit just outside of Paris, in Bagneux)