ABOUT PARIS WRITTEN WRITTEN MILLIONS OF WORDS FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN IN IT, WHO LIVED IN IT, WHO DREAMED ABOUT IT, AS WELL AS THOSE WHO WAS ONE DRAWING IT IN ITS IMAGINATION. AND ON EACH OF THEM PARIS LEAVED ITS SEAL. CULTURES, LOVE, WEALTH OR JOY OF LIFE ...
 | Tatyana Peschanskaya, doctor, candidate of medical sciences, passionate traveler and our regular author. |
Many generations of artists have captured on their canvases the face of Paris and its diversity. The history of the city, painted in either light or dark tones, is displayed on the big screen of world cinema. It served as a safe haven for political émigrés and scholars longing for fame, for persecuted poets and artists.
Paris is a golden dream and a longed for paradise for ambitious people trying to reach the upper world, as well as a quiet haven for those who crave peace and oblivion.
According to Jefferson, Paris "is the second homeland for every person." But what is it, Paris, the capital of Europe? Paris is always Paris. Paris is blue and sloppy. Paris is the "canal pimp." Paris is "glory and damnation, heaven and hell." Ernest Hemingway wrote: "Paris is a holiday." And further: "Here you want to eat, drink, create and love." He wrote these lines in 1921, but so far the impressions of a young American are penniless for all those who happened to be in this city.
HOW APPEARED A CITY OF ETERNAL SPRING
Most likely, the founders of Paris were the Gauls, who built a small settlement called Lutetia on the left bank of the Seine (III century BC). Then the settlement was moved to the island of Cité, from where the expansion of the city began on both banks of the river. At first, Paris was formerly the modest residence of the Merovingian, and later Carolingian kings - turned into a true capital in 987. The ascension to the throne of Philip II Augustus, who ruled the country from 1180 to 1233, is the beginning of the heyday of the history of Paris. During this period, the construction of the Louvre began, and the University was founded. However, the city reached its true prosperity during the reign of the Bourbon dynasty and the powerful Cardinal Richelieu (XVI - XVII century). Since 1789, with the beginning of the French Revolution, the milestone of the birth of the modern world begins its countdown.
At the beginning of the 20th century, Paris was again experiencing a brilliant rise: holding international and international exhibitions, the emergence of new trends in art - both in painting and in literature. Today there is only one Paris, but - millennial, diverse and multifaceted. With its magnificent monuments of the past, museums and nooks. Paris with its promenades and magnificent parks. Paris expensive shops and haute couture. For centuries, the city remained true to itself, while constantly updating. The face of Paris, its essence, its soul - in the monuments, figuratively recreating
a story.
MEET THE PARIS!
We started our acquaintance with the city from the island of Cite, from where Paris began to be built, and the famous Notre Dame de Paris - Notre Dame Cathedral. Notre Dame was built on the site of the Christian basilica, which in turn replaced the ancient Roman temple. Its construction began in 1163, and was completed only in 1345. The dimensions of the cathedral are huge. It can accommodate up to nine thousand people at a time. On the facade of the cathedral is the famous Gallery of Kings with twenty-eight statues representing the kings of Israel and Judea. In the center - a statue of the Madonna with a baby and angels, on the sides - the figures of Adam and Eve. At the entrance to the cathedral, on the right pilaster there is a statue of Notre Dame (XIV century) from the chapel of Saint-Enian. The treasury of the cathedral contains precious church relics, including a fragment of a genuine cross, a crown of thorns and a sacred nail.
In 1831, Victor Hugo immortalized Notre Dame Cathedral in his novel of the same name. A beautiful plot, dramatic events and the vitality of the characters attracted the attention of the best filmmakers of the 20th century, and four (!) Feature films by different directors appeared on the screens of the world. In 1996, Walt Disney's company created a cartoon version of the novel, and in 1998 the famous musical Notre Dame de Paris was born, telling about love and hate, about beauty and ugliness.
LOUVRE - FORTRESS, PALACE, MUSEUM
The history of Paris is closely connected with the history of the Louvre - the palace and the museum. Eight centuries have passed from the fortress, which was erected by King Philip Augustus at the end of the XII century, to the giant glass pyramid, which was built by Leo Min Pei in 1989. Due to the extraordinary vastness of the art collection, the Louvre is called "the largest and most significant museum in the world." The initial core of the exposition of the Louvre was the royal collection.
In 1792, the revolutionary government of Paris decided to transfer the nationalized royal property to the Louvre, and on August 10, 1793, the Central Museum of Art was opened in the fortress, putting on display 587 exhibits. Since then, the museum's collection has been constantly expanding. Napoleon I demanded from all defeated nations a tribute in the form of works of art. Currently, all museum exhibits are distributed in various sections: from the masterpieces of art of Ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome to the Ancient East. From medieval to modern sculpture and crafts, which includes a collection of royal jewels, to extensive collections of paintings and drawings.
Today, the Grand Louvre owes much to the decision of the President of the Republic, François Mitterrand (1981), to give the entire palace to the museum. The author of this innovative project, which became the subject of discussions not only in Paris, but around the world, was an American architect of Chinese origin Leo Min Pei, who had previously built the new wing of the National Gallery in Washington. The connection between the new halls and the courtyard of Napoleon began to be carried out using a transparent glass pyramid - an unusually light structure 21 meters high, surrounded by seven pools and fountains. Next to it are 3 lower pyramids that transmit light to the galleries where the museum collection is located. The final transformation of the Louvre from the palace into a museum took place on November 18, 1993, in connection with the grand opening of the “Wing of Richelieu”, two hundred years after the initial opening of the Louvre to the general public. Wing Richelieu with its six collections on 22 thousand square meters. meters, in 165 rooms on four floors - this is the new Louvre, which made it possible to see the works of art exhibited in these vast exposition spaces in a new light.
Two statues bring the world fame to the Louvre - Nika of Samothrace and Venus of Milos. The monument to the goddess of victory, Niki, towering on the nose of the galley, crowned the sanctuary of the higher gods who rule the sea. Her outstretched wings still cut through the sea air, which clings to her strong body clothing fabric. The head and hands of the figure have been lost, but the right hand, found in 1950, allows you to restore the gesture of a raised hand, announcing victory. The statue of Niki (II century BC) was found on the island of Rhodes in Samothrace and was sent to Paris by the French consul Champoiseau in 1863. The statue of Venus de Milo, considered the standard of female beauty, was found in 1820 on the island of Milos. It was bought by the Marquis de Riviere, the French ambassador to Constantinople, and presented to King Louis XVIII.
MYSTERIES OF MONA LISA
The Louvre symbol was the portrait of Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci, also known as the Mona Lisa. The famous smile of Lisa Gerardini, with whom the portrait was painted, the exquisite position of the hands, the serene calm face and the mysterious landscape in the background, no doubt explain the glory of the world famous painting acquired by Francis I immediately after the death of the artist. The history of the painting is widely covered, although some of its mysteries have remained unsolved. According to Vasari, the canvas depicts a young Florentine Mona Lisa, the wife of the then-famous merchant Francisco del Giocondo. The mysterious smile of Mona Lisa corresponds to the general tender and sophisticated atmosphere of the picture. To achieve this effect, the great Leonardo da Vinci used the sphumato technique, which dissolves contours and is based on the play of light and shadow.
Penetrating further into the Louvre - the labyrinth palace, a real encyclopedia of world art, whose collections date from works from the 8th millennium BC to 1848, you rediscover the world with amazing treasures and a variety of magnificent collections - from the Renaissance to ours days. In 2003, the Department of Islamic Art was established in the Louvre. In 2005, after joining the Tuileries Gardens at the Louvre, the museum’s possessions spread to the Place de la Concorde. Today, the Louvre is the fruit of centuries of history, a museum that looks to the future.
In the Champs Elysees
The heart of Paris is the Champs Elysees, which rise from the Palais Tuileries to the Place de la Zvezda (now Charles de Gaulle Place), from where the twelve largest arteries of the city diverge. In the center of the square there is a powerful Arc de Triomphe, the construction of which Napoleon dedicated to the Great Army. With its grandiose dimensions, it even surpasses the famous arch of Constantinople in Rome: its height is 50 meters and its width is 45 meters. The pylons of the arch are decorated with huge bas-reliefs, of which the one to the right of the Champs Elysees is the most famous and truly beautiful. This is the work of Francois Rudot "Marseillaise".
The main victories of Napoleon are reflected in the upper bas-reliefs, and the names of the great battles are engraved on the sculptural shields. Since 1920, under the arch has been the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, over which a fire is lit every night. The names of 558 French generals are knocked out inside the arch - the names of those who died on the battlefield are underlined. During the Second Empire, the Champs Elysees was a huge salon of Paris, a meeting place and a residential area for the most influential and famous people of the city. Today the Champs Elysees has not lost its beauty, nor its elegance and charm.
FROM THE HEIGHT OF THE EIFFEL TOWER
If the symbol of Rome is the Colosseum, then the symbol of Paris, without a doubt, is the Eiffel Tower. Both of these structures are truly unique and original in their design and implementation. Both affirm the inalienable right of man to create things that fit the scale of genius. The Eiffel Tower was built for the World Exhibition in 1889. The end of the 19th century became years of progress and scientific conquest. Engineering thought sought to transform every type of art, adapting it to the new course of life. At that time, glass and steel became the new building materials. Figuratively speaking, the engineer finally replaced the architect.
One of these engineers was Gustave Eiffel, who drew, not only on paper, but also against the sky itself, this extraordinary metal silhouette that triumphantly ascended over all of Paris and the city's ancient monuments. The Eiffel Tower seems like a lightweight openwork, but it consists of 15,000 metal parts welded together, weighing 7,000 tons and 320 meters high. On days of excellent visibility from the tower, you can enjoy the unique panorama of the city, with a radius of up to 70 kilometers. Under the Eiffel Tower lies the green of the Field of Mars, a former military parade ground, transformed into a beautiful park, divided into wide alleys, decorated with parterres with flowers, water cascades and ponds.
AT
LOW ON THE RIVER
Having visited the Eiffel Tower, you can take a boat trip along the Seine, admiring the beauties of Paris and numerous bridges. One of the majestic monuments of Paris is the Alexander III bridge, which was built in 1900 in memory of the conclusion of the Franco-Russian agreement. Garlands of flowers, elegant lanterns surrounded by cupids, symbols of shipbuilding form a rich decoration of the bridge. France represents medieval and modern France on two pylons of the right bank, and France of the Renaissance and the reign of Louis XIV on the pylons of the left bank. At the entrance to the bridge, two pylons are installed, symbolizing the union of France and Russia, as an allegory of the Seine and Neva.
MUSIC, SONGS, intrigues and dances
In Paris, there is the world's largest theater, the Grand Opera, the national academy of music and theater. It covers an area of 11 thousand square meters and accommodates more than two thousand spectators. Up to 500 actors can simultaneously be on the stage of the Paris opera. This is the most luxurious building from the time of Napoleon III, designed by Garnier in 1875. The theater has many sculptural works. One of the masterpieces is the sculpture of Jean Baptiste Carpo "Dance". The interior of the theater is decorated with frescoes by Isidore Pils, and the ceiling in the hall was painted in 1966 by the great Marc Chagall.
No matter where you are in the city, if you want to see the panorama of Paris, your eyes will surely linger on the white domes of the Sacre Coeur Basilica, majestically towering on the top of Montmartre Hill. It was built in 1876 by nationwide subscription and consecrated in 1919. Architects (Abadi and Mani) decided to build it in the Roman-Byzantine style. Behind the church is a square bell tower 84 meters high with the famous Savoyard, one of the largest bells in the world, weighing 19 tons. A magnificent staircase leads to the facade of the church with a portico of three arches. On both sides of the portico are equestrian statues of St. Louis and Joan of Arc.
Montmartre is one of the most picturesque quarters of Paris. It arose on a limestone hill 130 meters high, where according to legend, Saint Dionysius (Saint-Denis) - the first bishop of Paris, was beheaded in 250 together with two other priests. Due to its strategic position (the highest point in Paris), Montmartre played an important role in the political life of the city. And indeed, it was here in March 1871 that the first spark broke out, from which the flames of the Commune flared up. Throughout the 19th century, Montmartre was a kind of “Mecca” for the bohemian world and for a long time remained the center of the literary and artistic life of the city.
At the foot of Montmartre Hill lies the Place Blanche ("White Square"). The wings of the famous Moulin Rouge mill, a musical variety show, founded in 1889, “flew over” it. Here, Jane Avril, Valentin le Desosse and La Goulue shone with their art. This night institution, on the stage of which Kan-Kan was born, immortalized Toulouse Lautrec on his canvases. From here, along Clichy Boulevard with its many pubs, bars and entertainment venues, you can go to Place Pigalle, an area famous for its nightclubs and bright lights.
BISTRO-BISTRO!
Acquaintance with historical monuments and art sights of Paris cannot be complete without visiting the bistro with dishes of famous French cuisine. The menus of these illustrious small restaurants are also the history of Paris. The very word “bistro” appeared thanks to the soldiers of the Russian army who defeated Napoleon Bonaparte’s army, who, demanding their lunch, shouted to the waiters: “Quickly!”
We chose the most famous dishes from the menu of such a small restaurant, which can be safely considered "classics of the genre." First there was a lobster fried in oil with onions, tomatoes, white wine and brandy. This dish was invented by a French chef who came from America and was a huge success among gourmets. This was followed by "Golden Soup" - fish soup with garlic, spices, served with croutons. There is a legend that St. Peter in a beggarly robe knocked on the door of a poor widow, who had nothing to offer him, except a glass of wine and several fish caught by her son. The apostle taught the widow how to make them, and since then there has been a recipe for fish soup, considered one of the best soups in the world.For dessert, we took the “Cake with candied apples” - the most famous French pie, which was born as a result of the annoying mistake of pastry chef Fana Tatin, who in a hurry baked the pie with apples down. The confectioner of the famous restaurant "Maxim" approved this recipe and inserted it into his authoritative menu. Since then, the pie has enjoyed continued success.
O Paris!
Paris is music and lights, dancing and painting, cinema and literature, singing it. We listen to the songs of the great Edith Piaf, the slightly husky voice of Charles Aznavour or the sad ballads of Yves Montand and Gilbert Peugeot. And they are calling us to Paris.
Paris is a city that inspires admiration and love, amazes the imagination, anticipates the future. Paris is a holiday for everyone who has been to it, and the dream of those who are just going to this city of eternal spring.
