The island of Cite is situated on the Sena river in the centre of Paris. It is considered the cradle of the city.
A small Celtic tribe, the Parisii, lived on the island 250 B.C.
In the year 52 B.C., after Julius Cesar's victory, we became witnesses of the birth of Lutecia. Gauls settled on the island, while a Gallic-roman city was built on the left bank.
Today it is hard to imagine that the city was inhabited by several thousand people, there were dozens of churches and houses there. All of that was gradually demolished for the sake of getting rid of congestion and dirt.
The splendid, stern cathedral of Notre-Dame dominates Île de la Cité, reflecting in the waters of the Seine. The church was begun in 1163 under Bishop Maurice de Sully and was finished only in 1345. Imposing and majestic in its stylistic and formal consistency the facade of Notre-Dame is divided by pilasters into 3 parts.
The portals with rich sculptural decoration in the lunettes and the splays.
The gallery with 28 statues of the kings of Israel and Judea.
Entering the interior of the cathedral, one is immediately struck above all by its dimensions: 130 meters long, 50m wide and 35m high.
Fantastic monsters – gargoyles and chimeras watch Paris from the towers of Notre-Dame
The Hôtel-Dieu de Paris is regarded as the oldest hospital in the capital. It was founded by Saint Laundry in 651.
Another original attraction of the Cite is its flower market, which was established in the year 1786. Remarkably, this market has never closed, even during wartime.
The Conciergerie building, with its twin towers flanking is the entrance to Paris' oldest prison. The Conciergerie is most strongly associated with the French Revolution.
The western sector of the Île-de-la-Cité is occupied by the Palais de Justice. The facade of the latter faces on the Boulevard du Palais, preceded by the scenic Cour de Mai with its elegant wrought iron railing.
A vaulted passageway from the courtyard of the Palais de Justice leads to
that masterpiece of Gothic architecture which is the Sainte-Chapelle. It was
built for Louis IX
to contain the relic of the crown of thorns
In the Upper Chapel color predominates. The rich polychrome decoration overshadows the architecture, which is thus transformed into a simple support for the decorative element.
Climbing a staircase from the Lower Chapel, one reaches the Upper Chapel, a splendid reliquary with the appearance of precious jewel-case. Without aisles, it is 17 meters wide and 20 meters high.
The structure is lightened as much as possible to allow the huge stained-glass windows, nearly 15 meters high, to dominate the architectural composition.
The ancient history of the city started with these small settlements on the island. And this island must be the first place to visit for some one who wants to discover one of the most majestic European capitals…
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