Paris
Julius Caesar first mentioned the ancient oppidum that corresponds to modern Paris in the mid-1st century BC as Lutetia Parisiorum. This name translates to 'Lutetia of the Parisii', referencing the Gallic tribe that inhabited the area from around the middle of the 3rd century BC. The Parisii people established a major north, south trade route crossing the Seine on the Île de la Cité, which gradually became an important trading centre. They traded with many river towns and minted their own gold coins during the 1st century BC. The Roman town later became known as Parisius by the end of the Western Roman Empire before evolving into the name Paris in 1265. Scholars debate the meaning of the Gaulish ethnonym Parisii, with some suggesting it derives from the Celtic root pario- ('cauldron') or *kwar-is-io- ('the makers'). Others propose it means 'spear people' based on connections to Old Irish carr. Residents of the city are known in English as Parisians and in French as Parisiens.
Christianity was introduced in the middle of the 3rd century AD by Saint Denis, who was beheaded on the hill that became Montmartre after refusing to renounce his faith. Clovis the Frank made the city his capital from 508, establishing the Merovingian dynasty. Fortification of the Île de la Cité failed to prevent sacking by Vikings in 845, yet strategic importance remained high due to bridges preventing ships from passing. Odo of France successfully defended the city during the Siege of Paris between 885 and 886, earning election as king of West Francia. By the end of the 12th century, Paris had become the political, economic, religious, and cultural capital of France. Maurice de Sully started construction of Notre Dame Cathedral in 1163, which took 182 years to complete. The city faced occupation by England-friendly Burgundian forces from 1418 before being occupied outright by the English when Henry V entered in 1420. Joan of Arc attempted to liberate the city in 1429 but it remained under English control until 1436. During the French Revolution, a mob seized the arsenal at Invalides on the 14th of July 1789 and stormed the Bastille. Louis XVI and the royal family were brought to Paris and incarcerated in the Tuileries Palace. In 1793, the king, queen, and mayor were beheaded by guillotine during the Reign of Terror along with more than 16,000 others throughout France.
Paris is located in northern central France within a north-bending arc of the river Seine that includes two islands: Île Saint-Louis and the larger Île de la Cité. The lowest point sits above sea level while Montmartre stands as the highest hill at 130 meters. Excluding outlying parks, Paris covers an oval measuring about 105 square kilometers enclosed by the Boulevard Périphérique ring road. The climate classification Cfb indicates an oceanic climate typical of western Europe featuring cool winters and warm summers. Average temperatures reach between 19°C and 21°C in July with eight hours of sunshine per day. Each year there are few days when temperature rises above 30°C though heat waves like that of 2003 saw temperatures exceed 40°C for weeks. Light night frosts occur regularly but temperatures seldom dip below -10°C. Paris experiences light snow or flurries occasionally without accumulation. The highest recorded temperature was 42.6°C on the 25th of July 2019 while the lowest was -23.9°C on the 10th of December 1879. Annual precipitation averages 637 millimeters distributed evenly throughout the year.
For almost all of its long history except brief periods, Paris was governed directly by representatives of kings, emperors, or presidents of France. In 1974, Paris received municipal autonomy from the National Assembly making it one of only two cities to receive this status twice. Jacques Chirac became the first modern elected mayor in March 1977 after serving as president since 1871. Anne Hidalgo currently serves as mayor having been first elected in April 2014 and re-elected in June 2020. Voters of each arrondissement elect members to the Conseil de Paris which then elects the mayor. The council comprises 163 members with seat allocation depending on population ranging from ten members for least-populated arrondissements to thirty-four for most populated ones. Before the 2020 election each of twenty arrondissements had its own town hall and directly elected council. The creation of Paris Centre unified administrative division covering first four arrondissements took effect with that same 2020 election. Other sixteen arrondissements continue maintaining their own mayors. In January 2016, Métropole du Grand Paris came into existence as an administrative structure for cooperation between City of Paris and nearest suburbs including Hauts-de-Seine, Seine-Saint-Denis, and Val-de-Marne departments.
The economy of City of Paris relies largely on services and commerce accounting for eighty point six percent of three hundred ninety thousand enterprises. Of five million four hundred thousand salaried employees in Paris Region two million two hundred thousand concentrated in business districts known as pôles d'emplois. Largest district QCA employed five hundred thousand salaried employees representing about thirty percent of those in Paris. Finance and insurance comprised sixteen percent of employees while business services made up fifteen percent. Second largest business district La Défense employed one hundred forty-four thousand six hundred people where thirty-eight percent worked in finance and insurance. Sixty-two percent of buildings date from 1949 or before with twenty percent built between 1949 and 1974. One hundred eight percent of residences are studio and two-room apartments averaging nineteen people per residence since 1980s. Only thirty-three percent of principal residents own habitation against forty-seven percent for wider Île-de-France region. In February 2019 a Paris NGO counted three thousand six hundred forty-one homeless persons twelve percent women over half homeless more than year. Two thousand eight hundred eighty-five lived streets or parks while seven hundred fifty-six occupied other temporary shelters.
The Louvre received two point eight million visitors in 2021 holding position as world's most-visited museum featuring treasures like Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo statue. Centre Georges Pompidou second-most visited museum had one point five million visitors also known as Beaubourg housing modern art collections. Musée d'Orsay featured nineteenth-century art and French Impressionists attracting one million visitors. Cité des sciences et de l'industrie hosts one of largest science museums Europe receiving nine hundred eighty-four thousand visitors in 2020. Fondation Louis Vuitton opened October 2014 designed by architect Frank Gehry located Bois de Boulogne. Opéra Garnier historical Paris Opera dates nineteenth century while modern Opéra Bastille provides mixed repertoire classic and modern ballets. Comédie-Française founded 1680 remains oldest famous theatre performing mostly French classics Salle Richelieu Palais-Royal. Moulin Rouge opened 1889 became birthplace Cancan dance helping make famous singers Mistinguett Édith Piaf painter Toulouse-Lautrec who made posters venue. Philharmonie de Paris modern symphonic concert hall opened January 2015. Victor Hugo The Hunchback Notre-Dame inspired renovation setting Notre Dame de Paris while Les Misérables described social change political turmoil early 1830s.
Continue Browsing
Common questions
When was the ancient city of Lutetia Parisiorum first mentioned by Julius Caesar?
Julius Caesar first mentioned the ancient oppidum that corresponds to modern Paris in the mid-1st century BC as Lutetia Parisiorum. This name translates to 'Lutetia of the Parisii', referencing the Gallic tribe that inhabited the area from around the middle of the 3rd century BC.
Who founded Christianity in Paris and where did he die?
Christianity was introduced in the middle of the 3rd century AD by Saint Denis, who was beheaded on the hill that became Montmartre after refusing to renounce his faith. The Parisii people established a major north south trade route crossing the Seine on the Île de la Cité which gradually became an important trading centre.
What are the highest and lowest recorded temperatures for Paris France?
The highest recorded temperature was 42.6°C on the 25th of July 2019 while the lowest was -23.9°C on the 10th of December 1879. Average temperatures reach between 19°C and 21°C in July with eight hours of sunshine per day.
When did Paris receive municipal autonomy from the National Assembly?
In 1974, Paris received municipal autonomy from the National Assembly making it one of only two cities to receive this status twice. Jacques Chirac became the first modern elected mayor in March 1977 after serving as president since 1871.
How many visitors did the Louvre museum receive in 2021?
The Louvre received two point eight million visitors in 2021 holding position as world's most-visited museum featuring treasures like Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo statue. Centre Georges Pompidou second-most visited museum had one point five million visitors also known as Beaubourg housing modern art collections.