Page 82 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Paris

80  P ARIS AREA B Y AREA

Street-by-Street: Ile de la Cité

The origins of Paris are here on the Ile de la Cité, the
boat-shaped island on the Seine first inhabited over
2,000 years ago by Celtic tribes. One tribe, the Parisii,
eventually gave its name to the city. The island
offered a convenient river crossing on the route
between northern and southern Gaul and was
easily defended. In later centuries, the settlement
was expanded by the Romans, the Franks and the
Capetian kings to form the nucleus of today’s city. The Cour du Mai 7 . Marché aux
Fleurs Reine
There is no older place in Paris, and remains of is the impressive Elizabeth II
the first buildings can still be seen today in the main courtyard of the This colourful, lively
archaeological crypt under the square in front of Palais de Justice. market is one of Paris’s
few remaining flower
Notre-Dame, the great medieval cathedral and markets. Birds are
place of pilgrimage for millions of visitors each sold at the Sunday
year. At the other end of the island is another market.
Gothic masterpiece, Sainte-Chapelle – P O N T A U C H A N G E
a miracle of light.
P O N T N O T R E - D A M E
Q U A I D E
L A C O R S E
To Pont
Neuf

B LV D D U PA L A I S R U E D E L U T E C E

8 . Conciergerie Q U A I D E S O R F E V R E S
A grisly antechamber
to the guillotine, this
prison was much used
in the Revolution. P O N T S T-
The Quai des Orfèvres 0 Palais de Justice M I C H E L R U E D E L A C I T E
owes its name to the With its ancient towers
goldsmiths (orfèvres) lining the quays, the old D U PA R V I S
P L A C E
who frequented the royal palace is today a N O T R E - D A M E
area from medieval massive complex of law Q U A I D U M A R C H E N E U F
times onwards. courts. Its history extends
back over 16 centuries. The Préfecture
de Police is the
headquarters of the
police and was the P E T I T P O N T
scene of intense battles
during World War II.
P O N T A U D O U B L E

5 . Crypte
Archéologique
9 . Sainte-Chapelle Deep under the
A jewel of Gothic architecture and one of the most magical square lie the remains
sights in Paris, Sainte-Chapelle is noted for the magnificence of houses from 2,000
of its stained glass. years ago.

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