The origin of Paris
Two thousand years before there was a country called "France" on earth, and before there were what we call "French people" today, there was also ancient Paris. However, the Paris of that time was just a small fishing village on the island of "Cite" in the middle of the Seine River, and the owners of the island were the "Parisiens", an ancient Gaulish tribe. In the 1st century B.C., the Romans began to settle here and gradually developed it into a city. It was called "Lütze". In the 3rd and 4th centuries A.D., the Parisians named the city "Paris" in honor of its first owners.
Paris became the royal capital of France at the beginning of the 6th century A.D., and at the end of the 10th century King Hugh Capet built his palace here. After that, for another two or three centuries, Paris changed hands to Philip Augustus (1165-1223). By this time, Paris had grown to encompass both sides of the Seine River, with churches and buildings abounding, making it the political and cultural center of the West at the time.
In the late 16th and early 17th centuries A.D., the then King Henry IV greatly expanded Paris. To the 18th and 19th centuries, Paris is still gradually expanding, a large number of arable land is occupied by the city, the late French First Empire, Paris has more than 700,000 residents, more than a thousand streets; after the establishment of the Second Empire, Paris and annexed some of the surrounding villages; to Napoleon III, began to open up some wide streets in Paris, the construction of a number of gardens and parks, so that Paris began to form the appearance of today.
Sites of interest in Paris
To Chatelet (Chatelet) Square as the base, its surrounding to the Champs-Elysees are the city center (Centre), that is, the center of Paris is the city's oldest, but also the most lively location. The "center" of the city center is Notre-Dame de Paris and the Paris Magistrates' Court (Conciergerie) on the ?le de la Cité, which is surrounded by the Seine River. To the north of the Cite, Pl. de Concorde, the Paris Opera (the Opéra Garnier), the Sainte Marie Madeleine, the Palais du Louvre, and the Parc des Tuileries are located on the right bank in the center of the city. From the Arc de Triumphe du Caroussel (Arc de Triumphe du Caroussel) as a starting point, into the Tuileries Gardens, through the Obelisk of the Place de la Concorde, down the Champs-Elysées Avenue straight to the stately Arc de Triomphe, and then continue to the La Defense (La Defense) of the Ark building (Grande Arche), the central axis of the world-renowned scenic route.
If you take the Champs-Elysees as the dividing line and look west, the Eiffel Tower, the symbol of Paris, and Les Invallides are on the left bank. Further north, the white spire of the Basilique du Sacre Coeur on Montmartre hill looms like a landmark, second only to the Eiffel Tower in height.
World-class French cuisine
Paris is the gourmet capital of the world, the status of the chef is equal to the rich and famous, highly respected; five-star restaurants are proud of the crowd, is the focus of social talk, the topic of conversation with tourists; top restaurants to play the "once in a lifetime luxury slogan," so that a person's life seems to be unlimited shortcomings; the so-called French food and another inconvenience: not necessarily flashy clothes and gold strands, but the suit and tie, dresses and high heels. The so-called French cuisine has another inconvenience: you don't have to be dressed in gold, but you can't afford to be sloppy with your suit and tie, dress and high heels, and you have to follow the rules of etiquette in order to keep your elegance. The reason why Paris is the capital of gastronomy is that there are restaurants, taverns and cafes all along the streets that do not dishonor the name of the capital of gastronomy; and what about clothes? No need to be restrained, you see, simple clothes and shoes of the novelist walked in; mouth pipe, light-colored khaki pants retired bankers like his familiar corner restaurant old seat; from the south of France to Paris to find a performance opportunity of a pair of sisters love the alleys of the old man's hometown flavor ....... Café, or open-air coffee drinking, is a national sport in Paris, and a symbol of leisure. The French word "Cafe" is derived from the Arabic word, and the history of Parisian cafes has been more than 300 years, the first is the Saint-Germain district famous Poukou restaurant (Le Procope) predecessor, and all the way down the development of the cafe has become a part of the Parisian culture as well as life, which is the French people are proud of the place.
The characteristics of Parisian cafes are not like the American-Japanese or Italian-style coffee in the play with a variety of flavored spices, they are pure and simple to the aroma of the black coffee-based, that is, Expresso, the most important thing is still in the taste of the atmosphere and the environment, too much black coffee is too strong people, you can try a rather unique Ou Lei coffee (coffee with milk).
Dijon
Dijon (Dijon) is located in the Burgundy region wine country and for the rich sugar cane, retained many of the old nobleman's luxury palaces and relics to the old castle known throughout the country, people are both friendly and lively, the atmosphere there will put you y infatuated with a number of museums in the city, there are many awareness of the goods and religious relics, it is worthwhile to look carefully. Dijon is now the capital of Boeing-di, and is only about an hour from Paris by TGV. The station is close to the center of town, and the main sightseeing spots are so centralized that it's easy to follow a map, which makes it quite suitable for a day's hiking.
Dijon's main specialties are escargot and mustard. In medieval times, Dijon's palaces used to host grand banquets, but it's impossible to know if escargot was served on the tables. However, it is well documented that the Dukes of Burgundy used 320 liters of mustard at one of their banquets in the 14th century. The special flavor of Dijon mustard is made from high-quality mustard seeds and local wines fermented from unripe grapes, usually in the form of granules or paste. Grey Poupon, established in 1747, has a longstanding reputation for its mustard, and now operates under the name of "moutande maille", with a steady stream of customers. In addition to the mustard, the ceramic bottles used to hold the mustard can also be collected as art.
At the same time, Dijon is also known as France's wine country, with world-famous wines and the gastronomic attraction of its rustic cuisine, so those who love wine and food tours can't afford to miss out on this wine region. The city's magnificent architecture and centuries-old mansions, inherited from generations of Burgundian dukes, also add to the city's story. After many wars, reorganization, and continuous development, the flavor of the old city is still charming, elegant building, food and wine, as well as painting and art and other rich cultural resources, Dijon local humanities and the environment to create a unique art of life and taste, so that today's Dijon in France's status of the status of the ancient city of the ages.
Lyon
Lyon
The most populous city in France after Paris is Lyon, which is located in southeastern France, is an ancient city with a long history, especially after it was listed as a World Heritage City by UNESCO in 1998, its status is even more significant. The center of Lyon's old town is filled with medieval buildings and churches, earning it the nickname "the city with a pink heart".
In recent years, Lyon has seen great development in industry and commerce, transportation, science and education, with a population of 1,260,000, including the suburbs, making it the second largest metropolitan area and the economic and cultural center of France after Paris, and enjoying a more and more important position in the international arena.
Sights of Lyon
Place Bellecour
Lyon's city center is the giant Place Bellecour, once known as the Royal Square, with a towering statue of Louis XIV on horseback as its most important and arguably only accent. The biggest difference between Piazza Bellerive and the general center square is that its ground is entirely paved with red clay, a feature that does not make it beautiful, but is impressive, and those who do not like it refer to it as a "giant tennis court". The red tones of the square harmonize well with the red roofs and other warm tones of the buildings of the old city of Lyon. The Place des Blancs was an important stage for the textile workers' riots in Lyon in the mid-19th century.
The square is surrounded by four- and five-story buildings built in the early 19th century, with flower stores, cafes, and restaurants, making it a perfect place for citizens to relax. On the southeast side of the square is the Musée des Arts décoratifs, which houses a diverse collection of artifacts.
Old Town
The Place de la Vaudois is the heart of Lyon, and continues north to Croix-Rousse, the aforementioned center of the silk industry. To the west, cross the Sa?ne and you'll find Vieux Lyon, the old town of Lyon. This old neighborhood is home to many old houses from the 15th to 17th centuries, with their bright orange and red hues. As you walk along the narrow streets, the mixture of centuries-old buildings and the heavy air of the neighborhood gives you a strong sense of antiquity, as if you were in the Middle Ages. Many Gothic, Renaissance and Classical houses are connected to each other, giving you a sense of Lyon's long history and tradition in the face of changing times.
Primatiale St-Jean
Wandering through the old quarter, on the banks of the river Sa?ne, you can see the old Primatiale St-Jean, a church that is not particularly grand, but is known for its age and stature, being nearly 1,000 years old, and a mixture of Romanesque and Gothic styles. It is said that the Archbishop of Lyon had the status of Chief Archbishop, hence the name of his cathedral. It has witnessed the coronation of Pope John XXII and celebrated the grand wedding of King Henry IV and Queen Marie de Medici. These are the historical events and glories that the citizens of Dang Yes are still talking about today.
The Col du Faureville
Look up at the Col du Faure to the west of the cathedral, where the Basilique Notre- Dame, a symbol of Lyon, towers over the city, which can be reached by cable car or by walking up the steep slopes. Built in the 19th century, the church's fa?ade is a blend of Byzantine and medieval styles, decorated in marble, with glass glistening with colorful patterns, and containing fine mosaics and frescoes. On the top of the tower of the Chapel of Our Lady, which is connected to the right, the statue of Mary stands, gleaming gold in the sunlight. Standing on the platform on the left side of the church, overlooking the Lyon scenery, the endless red-tiled roofs, just like a red cloud, giving people a very deep impression.
Museum of Gallo-Roman Culture
Not far south of Notre Dame is the Musee de la Civilisation gallo-romaine. The entrance is on the fifth floor, and you descend one floor for each dynasty. As you wind your way down, you travel through history. The centerpiece is the Claudian Bronze Plate, discovered in 1528, inscribed with the Roman Emperor Claudius I's speech to the Senate in 48 AD. Many works of art can also be admired, such as the chariot wheels or the bronze statue of Neptune. Looking out of the windows are two Roman amphitheaters, which, like the Chinese gardens with their borrowed landscapes, make you feel as if you were in Roman times. Two thousand years ago, Lyon was a city on a hill, centered on these two amphitheaters and surrounded by walls. It was here that Julius Caesar used as a base for his conquest of Gaul. The streets of the neighborhood are now devoid of its former glory, and the remains of the Roman theaters are a reminder of that past.
Marseille
Marseille is France's second largest city and largest seaport, with a population of 1.23 million. The city is surrounded on three sides by limestone hills, beautiful scenery and pleasant climate. Marseille southeast of the Mediterranean Sea, deep harbor broad, no rapids and shoals, 10,000 tons of ships can be unimpeded; west of the Rhone River and the flat river valley and northern Europe, the geographical position is unique. Port by Marseille, La Vella, Fosse and Rhone St. Louis four major port areas, the annual cargo volume of 100 million tons, the largest portal for France's foreign trade. Marseille is an important industrial center in France, where 40% of France's oil processing industry is concentrated, Fosse - Talbot area has four large refineries, which can handle 45 million tons of oil per year. Marseille's ship-repair industry is also quite developed, and its ship-repair volume accounts for 70% of this industry. There are 10 large and small shipyards in the new port area, of which the 10th dock is 465 meters long, 65 meters wide and 11 to 12.5 meters deep, capable of repairing the world's largest ships - 800,000-ton tankers. The song inspired people to fight for freedom. The song became the national anthem of France and is known as the "Marseillaise". During the Second World War, the French warships gathered in the harbor refused to yield to Nazi Germany and all sank heroically, and Marseille once again shook the world.
Built on an elevated site overlooking the town is St. Charles Central Station. It is a modern station with a subway. Near the exit there is a currency exchange, a bank, bathrooms and much more. If you want to stay here for a few days, you should make good use of the subway and buses. The letter M bent into an arrow shape is the subway sign.
First, let's take a look at the entire city from Grand Central Station to get a general sense of its orientation and location in relation to the city. The white church on the rocky hill a little higher up on the front is Notre Dame de Jardin, with the statue of Mary radiating gold from its tower. In the distance is the Mediterranean Sea with the island of Ifo floating in it, while in front of you is the old harbor with its moored yachts and boats. In the center of the old harbor is the Belleju pier, where the hustle and bustle of fishermen, fishmongers and other buyers of fish is heard early in the morning. There are boat trips from this pier to Ifou Island. In the old harbor of Marseille, on the Ile de l'Ifou, there is the Chateau de l'Ifou, which the famous French writer Alexandre Dumas depicted in his novel "The Count of Mount Kittush". The Notre Dame de la Garde, which stands on a 48-meter plateau and is topped by a 10-meter-high statue of the patron saint, is a famous pilgrimage site in Marseille. The street that extends from the old harbor is called Rue Canoubier. If you look along this street in the opposite direction from the old harbor, you will see the Palais Longchamp in the middle of lush greenery with an art gallery and other facilities.
Walk down the station's wide marble steps and continue toward bd. d'Athenes for five minutes to Rue Gagnonbier. If it's pre-Christmas, there are some lovely Christmas dolls (nativity figures made of colorful clay) on the left side of this street. Turn right and walk down the street lined with stores to the Old Port, where the scent of the tide hangs in the air.