History of Paris
From Lutetia to the Napoleon Bonaparte Empire, from the declaration of the Republic to the Paris Commune: Paris was right at the heart of events that marked French history and shaped its present. Here is a look back to the birth of this major city.
Antiquity : Gaul
Even though the site of today’s Paris has been inhabited for 700,000 years, the city’s history really began in the 3rd century BC. At this time, the Parisii, a tribe in Gaul, took up residence on the Île de la Cité, a strategic crossing point towards the north of the country and the tin trade. Aware of the strategic importance of the location, Julius Caesar sent his troops to crush the Gauls and seize the island.
The Middle Ages: at the heart of the Kingdom of France
In 508, Clovis, king of the Franks, made Paris the capital of his kingdom. In the 8th century, the centre of the Carolingian Empire shifted to the Northeast. Yet the city took on a new dimension under Hugues Capet. Capet, Count of Paris was elected King of France in 987 and founded a new dynsasty, the Capetians. Then Louis VI, known as Louis the Fat, built a fortification, the Châtelet, around the rebuilt Grand-Pont (currently the Pont au change).
The construction of Notre-Dame cathedral began in 1163 (and was completed in 1345).
The modern era: the birth of royal squares
In the middle of the 16th century, under the reign of François 1st, the capital grew in beauty with Renaissance constructions, such as the new Louvre and the Hôtel de Ville. At this time, several historic buildings were built, including the Natural History Museum and the Luxembourg Palace. From the reign of King Henri IV, the city has the role of honouring the sovereign and praising his power. Royal squares were created for this purpose: Place Dauphine for Henri IV, Place de la Concorde for Louis XV, Place des Vosges for Louis XIII, etc.