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Home , Count of Paris, Europe (Paris Métro), Forest of Fontainebleau, France Miniature, Les Invalides, Loing

Ile de Bonjour, my name is Juliette. Follow me on a tour of Paris and the Ile de France region!

Parc de la Villette

WITH ABOUT 350,000 square miles, France is the largest coun- try in Western Europe, and roughly the size of Texas. In 2003, its population reached 62 million, Place de la of which about 12 million live in Cimetière du or around the capital, Paris. Père Lachaise Champs Ile de France also includes several de Mars la Cité overseas territories: Place de and in the Caribbean; la Nation just north of Brazil; Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean; French Polynesia, Parc des New Caledonia, and Wallis and Expositions Futuna in the Pacific Ocean; and the Antarctic territories. Since the European Union's inception, some 50 years ago, France has been at the forefront of the construction of a strong and Giverny Parisis integrated Europe. The European Val-d’ Union remains one of France's top Parc Astérix foreign policy priorities. As one of Auvers-sur-Oise Charles de -Saint Gaulle airport the five permanent members of Denis the United Nations' Security St-Germain-en-Laye Saint- Council, and the fourth highest Denis contributor to the U.N. budget, Hauts-de-La Défense Seine France is deeply involved in all sig- Versailles nificant international affairs. Montfort l’Amaury France Vincennes But France is also a country Miniature Rungis Seine-et- where people are strongly Yvelines Val de Marne attached to their regional roots. Evry This brochure will help you Vaux-le-Vicomte understand the deep ties the French continue to have with their native regions. This brochure belongs to a series of six: the Northeast, the Northwest, the Southeast, the Southwest, Ile-de-France, and the overseas territories. Brochures are available on request, by writ- ing to [email protected]. How Paris Came to Be

GAULS OF THE PARISII tribe first settled in the area that would Parisians stormed the in 1789, sparking the French become the City of Light in 200 BC. They founded a fishing village on Revolution; they also contributed to the subsequent French revolutions what is now the Ile de la Cité. Conquered by the Romans under Julius of 1830 and 1848. With stability restored under III, Paris Caesar in 52 BC, it was renamed Lutetia (Marshy Place). Within the received a major face lift space of 50 years, the city grew considerably and expanded first to the from the civic planner Baron right and then to the left bank of the Seine, changing its name to Paris Haussmann, who, in the and becoming a major regional center in the process. In 508, Clovis 1850's, transformed 60 per- the Frank made Paris the of the Merovingian Dynasty, cent of Paris's buildings, laid thereby marking the end of Roman rule. The suc- out the , ceeded the Merovingians in the seventh century and moved the cen- and designed the elegant ter of power to the Rhine region. Paris thus temporarily lost its politi- boulevards for which the city cal significance and fell prey to several sieges by Norse Vikings. Boulevard Haussmann is so well known. Following the death of the During the Franco-Prussian war of 1871, Paris lay under siege last Carolingian king, feudal lords for four months until it finally fell. When the Prussian troops with- elected the Count of Paris, Hugh drew, 92 skilled workers, professionals, and political activists formed Capet, as the King of France in the Communal Council and established the short-lived Paris 987. He founded the Capetian Commune. This socialist government ruled Paris for three months dynasty and reestablished Paris during the spring of 1871, before national government forces as the capital of France. The retook control of the city. Capetian monarchs built them- The turn of the 20th century, coined La Belle Époque, Notre Dame Cathedral, built 1163-1285 selves a palace on the Ile de la brought a thriving artistic, cultural and social scene to Paris, with Cité and oversaw a period of growth and expansion throughout the the Impressionists exhibiting their paint- twelfth and thirteenth centuries during which Paris acquired paved ings in the Salon des Refusés and the roads, schools and churches (including the Notre Dame Cathedral), emerging bourgeoisie dancing their and became a thriving trade and intellectual nucleus. evenings away in the new sultry night clubs Despite Paris's prosperity, of . Paris became the interna- however, there was growing tional center of entertainment and fashion discontent among the people, —performers such as Jane Avril drew large leading the king, Charles V to crowds and fashion guru Coco Chanel abandon the palace on Ile de la opened her first millinery shop. In 1895, - La Goulue Cité so as to secure himself the Lumière brothers developed the by -Lautrec within the fortress of the portable movie camera, bringing the earliest movies to Parisian in 1358. audiences. Meanwhile Art Nouveau was developing and authors The Louvre, a Parisian landmark since its con- After the English occupa- struction as a fortress in 1180, served as a such as Flaubert and Zola were writing their pivotal works. tion and its ensuing period of royal palace before becoming the world’s Another wave of additions and transitions took place most celebrated art . The glass pyra- hardship during the Hundred mid, designed by IMPei, was added in 1989. throughout the 1980's. Under President Mitterrand's direction, Years' War (1337-1453), a war an ambitious building program designed to meet the needs of a which was finally won by France, Francis I reconstructed the Louvre as modern city was imple- SOME KEYDATES the royal palace. But soon after, the Reformation led to a religious civil mented. This program includ- 1253- Sorbonne University is founded war between Catholics and Protestants, leaving the country in ruins. edthe Défense Arch, the 1517- Leonardo da Vinci arrives in Under Louis XIII, the capital regained its grandeur as new neighbor- Bastille Opéra, a renova- France with the hoods arose and the royal press and French Academy were established. tionof the Louvre, the La 1604- Le , Paris’s oldest ILE DE FRANCE Villette complex, and the bridge, is completed Bibliothèque de France, a Ile-de-France comprises the territory ruled by when he 1682- Louis XIV, the Sun King, installs computer-age library. became King of France in 987. Enveloping Paris, it is an inland penin- his court at Versailles sula delineated by the rivers Seine, Oise, Ourcq, and Marne. Its cen- As illustrated by her eclectic architecture built 1789- : trality and history as France's center of power makeIle-de-France the The Begins most celebrated (and populous) part of the country. Numerous over the course of 800 years, chateaux allude to its history as the royal heartland where rulers lived Paris in the 21st century 1804- Coronation of Napoleon in grand palaces, including Versailles, Saint-Germain-en-Laye (which retains a rich historical lega- 1889- The is erected housed the kings from Francois I to Louis XIV), Malmaison and cy, yet continues to look for- 1900- Paris opens its first metro line Fontainebleu (Napoleon's residence and hunting grounds respective- ward, thus striking a balance 1920- The Unknown Soldier is buried ly,) and Vaux-le-Vicomte. Rich in art and architecture, Ile-de-France between old-world charm under the attracts visitors from around the world. and avant-gardism. 1989- The is built Geography: Inspiring Landscapes

THE ILE-DE-FRANCE REGION, composed of eight depart- the number one river port of France. Narrowed between high ments (Paris, Seine-et-Marne, Yvelines, Essonne, Hauts-de- stone embankments in the capital city, the river carries commercial Seine, Seine-Saint-Denis, Val-de-Marne and Val-d'Oise), encir- barges, waterbuses and large tourist boats (bâteaux-mouches). cles the Paris land From the water you can see fine views of basin, which covers the Cathedral of Notre Dame, the Louvre, over a fourth of the the Musée d'Orsay, the and region's surface. This the Eiffel Tower. The northern side of the sedimentary basin is river is described as the Right Bank (Rive a vast, saucer-shaped Droite) and the southern side as the Left depression, covering Bank (), because when one about 39,000 square faces the direction of the river’s flow, the miles and is com- north side is on one's right, and the south posed of alternating on one's left. Combine harvester (Seine-et-Marne) layers of hard and Bâteau-mouche on the Seine The water soft rock that create a varied relief. Climatic and river erosion of the Seine is a very important molded the landscape into the plateaus, plains, hillocks and val- resource. Electric power stations, ther- leys found there today. The diverse nature of the land allows for mal and nuclear, draw their cooling the alternation of field crops (in the plains), mixed-farming and water from the river. Half the water truck farming (in the valleys), making its agriculture very pro- used in the Paris region, both for indus- ductive, especially for sugar beets and wheat. try and for consumption, and three The region's quarters of the water used in the area LANDSCAPESTHATINSPIRED ARTISTS temperate climate is between and Le Havre, is taken subject to both from the river. The river is therefore well oceanic and conti- protected, to minimize any pollution. Coal barge on the Seine nental influences. Winters are generally GEOGRAPHICAL LANDMARKS OF PARIS cool and mild, although still prone to cold periods (36 degrees Fahrenheit in mid-January) and

Plain Near Auvers - Vincent Van Gogh, 1890 summers are rather warm and dry (64 When one thinks of the Ile-de-France degrees Fahrenheit in region and the bustling urban city life mid-July). Annual pre- of Paris, it is easy to forget the natural cipitation tends to surroundings that inspired many of match the overall the great names of the art world. average rainfall for However, as one winds one's way France (from 23” to The center of Paris: the Ile-de-la-Cité through Ile-de-France, one soon dis- 28”per year). Paris is divided into twenty arrondissements or districts.The covers the natural beauty that so The region is irri- first one is in the center of the city, and the others are laid out inspired them. Even today, one can gated by the Seine in a clockwise manner around it. The center of Paris is the Ile- easily imagine Vincent Van Gogh river, France's second de-la-Cité, an island in the middle of the Seine, which hosts the (1853-1890), with his easel propped longest (after the Cathedral of Nôtre- in the corner of a field of wheat near ), whose main Dame. Another impor- Auvers-sur-Oise (Val-d'Oise), or Pissarro tributaries are the tant geographical land- (1830-1903) and Renoir (1841-1919), Loing, , and mark is the city's high- glasses inhand, soaking up the joyful Marne rivers from the est hill, Montmartre, atmosphere on the banks of the south and east and which rises 426.5 feet Marne. Under the tallest trees of the the Oise from the (130 meters) above the forest of Fontainebleau, one cannot north. The river axis of rest of the city and is help but recall that Manet (1832- the Seine is an impor- topped by the large 1883) and Sisley (1839-1899) painted tant navigable pas- white Catholicbasilica, some of their finest paintings here. sageway, making Paris The hill ofMontmartre and the Sacré Coeur Sacré Coeur. A Global Economic Powerhouse

ILE-DE-FRANCE is not only France’s most economically dynamic employed in service-related region (representing about 28 percent of French GDP), but it is also industries. Both public and Europe's richest region. It is home to approximately 609,000 compa- private research institutions nies, of which 8,000 are foreign—including subsidiaries of IBM, flourish in Paris, and together Microsoft, 3M and Honda. And, as the home of the national govern- they employ 126,000 peo- ment and numerous public administrations, the region is naturally at ple. The research sector is the center of French policy-making. one of the strongest in The population of Ile-de-France, 19 percent of France's total Europe and plays an impor- population, is younger than the national average, which gives the tant role in scientific and region a huge potential for growth and innovation. As the largest technological development employment pool in Europe, the region is home to 5.5 million jobs worldwide. and nearly 23 percent of the total French labor force. The Ile-de- Nevertheless, Ile-de- France labor force is also highly qualified; the region's residents make France also remains an up more than 33 percent of France’s senior managers, 40 percent of important industrial and agri- the staff of national research organizations and 30 percent of the cultural region. Heavy indus- employees of institutions of higher learning. tries in the area employ 15 Central Paris is populated by small, often family-run enterprises percent of the nation’s indus- that specialize in luxury trial labor force, and half of goods like clothing, Ile-de-France's land area is The wholesale market at Rungis speaks to perfumes, jewelry, toys, devoted to agriculture. The the region’s productive agricultural industry. furs and gloves. Paris is region's agricultural strength also home to numerous is best illustrated by the enormous wholesale market in Rungis. book printers and pub- As the millions of foreign visitors who come each year know, Ile- lishers. The La Défense de-France, one of the world's district, on the western leading tourist destinations, is outskirts of Paris, has home to numerous stunning become an important attractions. Indeed, tourism is business district and the a major industry in Ile-de- home of numerous cor- France and the largest source porations in the service The of La Défense of income for the city of Paris and research sectors. dominates the Paris skyline. itself. With 11 major conven- Areas in the east of Ile-de-France have developed a specialty in tion centers, the region is the logistics, industrial services, health communications, and, with top destination in Europe for The Château de Versailles, depicted here Disneyland Paris, leisure. In the region to the west of Paris, corpo- trade shows and business during a winter evening, attracts thousands rations focus on advanced technology, aerospace, automobiles and tourism, hosting over 1,500 of visitors every year to the Yvelines depart- electronics. Industry to the south is based around optics, telecommu- events every year. ment of the Ile-de-France region. nications, genetics and agricultural products, while the northern sub- In order to accommodate this influx of tourists, as well as urbs continue to be the base for mechanical engineering, metallurgy, millions of daily commuters, Ile-de-France has a cutting-edge automotive industries and pharmaceuticals. transportation infrastructure. With Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle As the home airport, the sec- to over 400 financial ond largest in institutions, 70 per- Europe, and a vast cent of French insur- network of high ance companies and speed trains, com- 96 percent of French muter railroads and banks, Ile-de-France subway lines, Ile- is a major financial de-France's trans- center. The service portation network sector represents is one of the most the majority of the impressive in the region's economy, Control tower, Charles de Gaulle airport world. with 83 percent of Ile-de-France's diverse economy, coupled with a strong infrastructure, A Renault employee works on a car its labor force continue to make the Paris region an important international crossroad. at an assembly plant in Flins. Discover: PARIS

THE JUXTAPOSITION of historical masterpieces and modern expres- opera house. Charles Garnier designed it by incorporating both neoclas- sions of the imagination creates the unique ambiance that attracts over sical and styles. The five tiered auditorium in red velvet and gold 20 million tourists each year to the charming, bustling city of Paris. leaf boasts a ceiling painted by Marc Chagall. Opéra Garnier is famous for having inspired the Phantom of the Opera (its underground lake Discover: served as the hiding place for Gaston The Louvre (www.louvre.fr) houses the largest art collection in Leroux's phantom). At the edge of the the world with a catalogue listing 300,000 works. Famous pieces in Opera quarter facing the Champs-Elysées, the collection include the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci and the octagonal fea- Liberty Leading the People by Eugène Delacroix. tures a 3,200 year-old Egyptian obelisk. The Muséed’Orsay (www.musee-orsay.fr), dedicated to late On the bohemian hill of Montmartre, 19th and early 20th century art, is known for its Impressionist paint- artists assemble with their easels and umbrel- ings, including Monet's water lilies. las, painting portraits at the . The (www.cnac-gp.fr), famous for its radi- As it sits atop the only hill in Paris, it would be cal inside-out architectural hard to miss the 20th-century white neo- design, houses modern and Artists and umbrellas Roman-Byzantine style basilica, Sacré- on top of Montmartre contemporary art from the Coeur (www.sacre-coeur-montmartre.com). 20th and 21st centuries. a fashionable residential area for the wealthy class Built for the 1900 World's during the 17th century, is replete with grand mansions and beautiful Fair, the and the squares (including the Place des ). It is also very trendy thanks (www.rmn.fr) to the museums, designer boutiques and ethnic cafes that line its grace the Place de la Concorde enchanting streets. with structures covered by Discover: SIGHTS domes of iron and glass. The modern exterior of the Centre Napoleon commis- Pompidou with its colorful pipes The ultra-modern science sioned the Arc de Triomphe museum, LaCité des Sciences (www.cite-sciences.fr), zaps guests to (pictured) to commemorate his the future with glass and stainless steel bridges and suspended victory at the Battle of Austerlitz walkways, as well as transparent escalators and elevators. in 1805. The 164-foot tall Arc (the 2nd largest in the world) “QUARTIERS” (NEIGHBORHOODS) Discover: glorifies Napoleon's victories At the heart of Paris, the Ile de la Cité boasts the Notre Dame and is the site of the tomb of cathedral (www.cathedraledeparis.com), built in the 13th century. the Unknown Soldier. This masterpiece of gothic architecture is famous for its flying but- The Champs Elysées is the tresses, rose windows and gargoyles. most famous avenue in Paris, lead- The Opera neighborhood bus- ing from the Place de la Concorde tles with commerce, tourism and the- to the Arc de Triomphe. This wide ater. The 19th century grandeur of the avenue attracts many shoppers and area is still very present in the shopping diners, and is the site of military galleries and grands boulevards parades and celebrations, particu- designed by Baron Haussmann. The The (July 14) parade Paris’s 19th century opera house larly on July 14 (Bastille Day, 17th-century royal square, Place on the Champs-Elysées France's national day). Vendôme (www.place-vendome.net), features a statue of Napoleon built the Eiffel atop a column and is encompassed by elegant banks and jewelers. Built Tower (pictured, www.tour-eiffel.fr), in the 1860's, Opéra Garnier (www.opera-de-paris.fr) is France's oldest situated at the edge of the Champs de Paris by night Mars, for the Universal Exhibition in After dining at a charming 1889 saying, "France will be the only Parisian café like Les Deux country with a 300-meter flag pole." Magots, Le Café Flore, La At 989 feet, it was the tallest structure Coupole, Angelina or the Café in the world at the time. des Deux Moulins (featured in (www.invalides.org) the famous French film Amélie), originally served as a military hospital in experience the colorful nightlife the 18th century, but it now houses the of Montmartre's cabarets— massive tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte Moulin Rouge or Folies Bergères. and a French military museum. Discover: ILE-DE-FRANCE

NOT ALL THE JEWELS of the Ile-de-France region are in Paris intra LANDSCAPES THAT INSPIRED ARTISTS muros (that is to say, inside the city proper). All of the seven departments, which together form the Ile-de-France region, have much to offer. On the right bank of the Oise river, 20 miles away from Paris, one Indeed, most contain so many attractions that it is best to set aside finds Auvers-sur-Oise, which inspired enough time for several day trips during one's stays in Paris. many of the world's most famous The region became a favorite of French royalty, notably after François artists. From Van Gogh to Pissarro, I transformed Fontainebleau into a true Renaissance palace in 1528. The this medieval village still captures region is now a cultural gold mine with its châteaux, museums, unusual the essence of 19th-century sites, artists' homes and natural parks. Here is a small selection of places impressionism. After visiting worth stopping by. For more information, visit: www.franceguide.com. the château, where one is invit- ed on a 'Journey to the time of CASTLES AND RELIGIOUS the Impressionists,' one can immerseoneself in the unique The main "must-see" is of atmosphere of the period at the course Versailles, a palace devot- Auberge Ravoux, which put up Van ed entirely to the cult of beauty, Gogh before his death in 1890. forged through the will of one Another of the must-see villages Giverny Gardens man, Louis XIV, the Sun King. His around Paris is undeniably Giverny, a Courtesy of www.brodyaga.ru château, one of the most illustri- village along the Seine about 46 miles to the west of Paris, where ous world heritage monuments, is Monet moved to in 1883. Here, he redesigned much of his garden a unique masterpiece that one and then painted its water lilies, flower beds and Japanese foot- never tires of visiting. Its forerun- bridge, creating the world-renowned “water lily” series. For more ner, a little royal hunting lodge, information visit www.giverny.org/gardens. was built in 1623. After several Galerie des Glaces, Versailles extensions, the latest and most important said to have been inspired by the Vaux-le-Vicomte chateau, it became a palace fit for AMUSEMENT PARKS a king and is now among the most famous monuments in the Before visiting all these historical landmarks in person, you world. The park landscaped by Le Nôtre, the , the may want to take a stroll across . This is an Petit Trianon, the King's vegetable garden and the city of Versailles exceptional park consisting of a vast map of France covering 5 itself... all are worth a close look. The castle is currently undergoing hectares that includes some 160 of the country's major monu- its biggest renovation since the king moved out in 1789. The ments reduced to 1/30 scale. Explore the whole of France and its "Galerie des Glaces," for instance, will be under renovation until main attractions in a few strides for a great general overview! spring 2007. Nevertheless, the palace will stay open, and events Based on the comic strip, and exhibits will continue to take place throughout the year. For Parc Astérix, located just 20 miles more details, please visit www.chateauversailles.fr. outside of Paris, offers visitors The Château of Vaux-le-Vicomte is an architectural won- numerous activities to get in the derof the early 17th cen- spirit of Gallic France. In addition tury. Every Saturday, when to roller coasters and water rides, night falls, the château Parc Astérix offers an array of rides and its grounds are illumi- suitable for people of all ages. It's nated by 2,000 candles, most famous roller coaster, creating the atmosphere "Tonnerre de Zeus," is Europe's of a 17th-century royal second largest. To learn more, visit reception such as the one Tonnerre de Zeus, the star www.parcasterix.fr. roller-coaster in Parc Astérix Nicolas Fouquet gave on Disneyland Paris, located near the August 17, 1661, in Vaux-le-Vicomte demonstrates the capital, offers over 60 attractions for chil- grandeur of the Louis XIV style. honor of King Louis XIV. dren as well as grown-ups. Accessible by To learn more, please visit www.vaux-le-vicomte.com. almost any form of transportation, several A prime masterpiece of Gothic art, the Basilica of Saint- days are necessary to Denis was known as the Lucerna (Lantern) in the 13th century due take in all that the park to its exceptional luminosity. Home to the reliquary of Saint Denis, has to offer. For more who was buried in the basilica's Gallo-Roman graveyard, it became information, please visit a necropolis of the kings of France and was one of the richest www.disneylandparis.com. Press &Information Office, abbeys in the region (www.saint-denis-tourisme.com). Embassy of France January 2006