Paris

 Paris, France is the most populous city in the country and is also the capital. It is situated on the banks of the seine river, it is here because of how great of a trade route through the area when it was first formed in northern France in the Ile-de-France region, also known as the region parisienne, or the "Paris Region” as it is known to the French at the time. But France didn’t get as prosperous as it is now just overnight, In fact, its origin have been traced back to the third century BC when a smaller offshoot of the Celtic senomes called the parisii tribe settled the area because of its trade route that travels north and south along the river along the river. Soon though the small settlement became a town that eventually had its own coins minted for trade purposes. But soon after its settlement, in probably the year 53 BC the settlement was taken over by the Romans and named Lutetia (the longer name was, Lutetia Parisiorum or how it was known to the Romans, "(Lutetia of the Parisii"). It became a prosperous city with baths, temples, theaters, and an large amphitheater. But later on, by the fall of the Romans western empire, the town was known simply as Parisius in Latin and Paris in French. In the year of 508 a slow movement of Franks settled into the area as a result of Clovis the Frank, the first king of the Merovingian dynasty, making the city his capital in the year of 508 until he converted to Christianity and soon the Catholic Church ruled the land. Many years later, near the end of the 12th century, Paris was well on its way to becoming the political, economic, religious, and cultural capital of central Europe. Between 1190 and 1202, Philip Augustus turned the city into a huge modern metropolis by paving roads, Building bridges and eventually building the huge fortress today known as the Louvre. And to defend this huge city, a massive wall was erected around it. A century later, after the hundred years after the French wars of religion. Cardinal Richelieu took the position as the chief minister of the king at the time, Luis Xlll who wanted the city of Paris to become the most luxurious city ever again took on a huge project to re-model the whole city. Then in 1789 thousands of French people stormed the arsenal at the Invalides and acquired thousands of weapons. This event marked the begging of the French revolution, where the city’s population of poor workers overthrew the aristocratic government. Tens of thousands of people were killed-16,000 of whom where aristocrats who fell victim to the guillotine. Even though the city was thrown into chaos, the revolutionaries won and napoleon Bonaparte came to power.  In the early 1900’s when World War One was devastating the countryside outside of Paris inside of the city was not much different. German zeppelins bombed the city and The Germans huge long range guns where constantly ravaging the city with its enormous power. After WW1 the wrecked city became a mecca for many writers including Ernest Hemingway, and the surrealist artist Salvador Dalí. Who changed the world of art with their literature and paintings. But the serenity wouldn’t last long, for in the year 1940 the Nazis marched into the city and ordered all the policemen to round up all 12,800 Jews in the city, including 4,000 children and bring them to extermination camps. Not one of the children came out. But not long later the city was freed from the Nazi grasp. And again, the peace would not last. In the 1950’s pro-independence Algerians who wanted the then French colony to be independent from foreign rule, killed 11 policemen. More attacks would follow, but for different reasons. On 7 January 2015, two French Muslim extremists attacked the Paris headquarters of Charlie Hebdo and killed thirteen people Then in, the 13 th  of November 2015,a series of coordinated terrorist attacks in Paris and Saint-Denis claimed by the 'Islamic state' organization ISIS 130 people were killed by gunfire and bombs, and more than 350 were injured. Seven of the terrorists committed suicide and the others were killed in shootouts by police. After that, the city was plunged into a lockdown until the French government was sure the risk of more Attacks was gone or safe enough to continue with a normal life.  Today France is known for its beautiful architecture and artwork. It is a huge hub for tourism and attracts millions of visitors from around the world every year to see its beautiful sights, Especially the Eiffel tower. Many people also come to see the huge Louvre and all of its world-renowned art galleries. But it is not main attractions that attract people. Many people like to put themselves in the Parisian culture and visit small family owned shops, bakeries, and café’s. But if you want to dig even deeper you can visit the Paris catacombs where thousands of people are buried under the streets of Paris And if you are going back topside,Be one of many to visit the Eiffel tower which was built in 1889 as the grand entrance for the world’s fair that year. Today it attracts over 6.8 million people from around the world to see magnificent 360 degree views of the city.