Paris [French pa ri], the capital and largest city of France, within the administrative boundaries of the department of “Ville de Paris” 105 km 2, (2016) 2.2 million residents in the urban settlement area 11.4 million residents.
Paris is 34 m above sea level on both sides of the Seine in the center of the Paris basin, surrounded by plateaus (150 to 200 m above sea level), their large forests (Forêts de Chantilly, Montmorency, Saint-Germain, Marly, Rambouillet, Fontainebleau, Sénart among other things) serve as recreational areas. The city is divided into 20 arrondissements. Political, administrative, intellectual, cultural and economic activities of the country are concentrated in Paris – more than in any other European capital.
Population
According to politicsezine, the most important metropolitan area in France has developed around Paris. The population of the metropolitan area is 12.1 million people, more than a fifth of the total population of France. The metropolitan area of Paris is divided into the actual Ville de Paris, the “Petite Couronne” (Département Hauts-de-Seine, Seine-Saint-Denis, Val-de-Marne) and the “Grande Couronne” (Département Seine-et- Marne, Yvelines, Essonne, Val-d’Oise). With regard to population development, these three zones show different dynamics. Historically, population growth has been concentrated in the core city area, where the peak was reached in 1921 with 2.9 million residents. After that, the number of residents decreased again, especially since the Second World War. However, increases have been recorded in some arrondissements since the 2000s, due to immigration, urban redevelopment and housing programs. In the Petite Couronne, there has been increased growth since the 1920s, which has continued to this day in a weaker form (1901: 1.06 million residents, 1954: 2.73 million residents, 1990: 3.99 million residents, 2015: 4.57 million residents). The Grande Couronne was predominantly rural until the Second World War. Since then, however, the growth has mainly taken place in this outer zone (1901: 0.96 million residents, 1954: 1.74 million residents, 1990: 4.51 million residents, 2015: 5.31 million). The integration of foreigners in this area, increasingly North and Black Africans, poses major problems for the state and society. 73 million residents, 1990: 3.99 million residents, 2015: 4.57 million residents). The Grande Couronne was predominantly rural until the Second World War. Since then, however, the growth has mainly taken place in this outer zone (1901: 0.96 million residents, 1954: 1.74 million residents, 1990: 4.51 million residents, 2015: 5.31 million). The integration of foreigners in this area, increasingly North and Black Africans, poses major problems for the state and society. 73 million residents, 1990: 3.99 million residents, 2015: 4.57 million residents). The Grande Couronne was predominantly rural until the Second World War. Since then, however, the growth has mainly taken place in this outer zone (1901: 0.96 million residents, 1954: 1.74 million residents, 1990: 4.51 million residents, 2015: 5.31 million). The integration of foreigners in this area, increasingly North and Black Africans, poses major problems for the state and society.
Notre-Dame-de-Paris
Notre-Dame-de-Paris [n ɔ trədamdəpa ri], name of Maria consecrated cathedral of the Archdiocese of Paris on the Seine island Ile de la Cité, in the historic core of Paris.
Five-aisled basilica with double ambulatory, chapels and two-tower west facade. On the site of several previous buildings, the new construction began under Bishop Maurice de Sully († 1196) in 1163; the choir was in liturgical use from 1175, the high altar was consecrated in 1182, the nave with chapels was completed in the early 13th century. From 1246/47, Jean de Chelles († shortly after 1258) built the chapel wreath around the choir and expanded the transept, the northern transept portal around 1260 by Pierre de Montreuil (* around 1200, † 1266) with rich figurative decoration (portal Saint-Étienne and rose window). There are also significant architectural sculptures on the south transept portal and on the three west portals; the west facade (completed in the 2nd quarter of the 13th century), with its balance of vertical and horizontal structure, with a royal gallery and rose window, became the model for many subsequent Gothic cathedrals.
Numerous figures were destroyed during the French Revolution in 1793; recovered fragments are in Paris in the Musée de Cluny. Napoleon Bonaparte crowned himself Emperor of the French in the cathedral in 1804. V. Hugo’s great historical novel ” The Hunchback of Notre-Dame ” (1831) generated a new appreciation of Gothic architecture. Extensive restoration work was carried out in 1844–64.
In the “Crypte archéologique” under the forecourt of the cathedral, the excavation results uncovered since 1964 testify to the development of the oldest part of Paris since Roman times. In 1991 the cathedral was shared with the Paris bank of the Seine added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. In 2013 the 850th anniversary of the building was celebrated. Today, the cathedral is one of the main tourist attractions with millions of visitors every year, as well as a city symbol that is valid beyond the borders of France and an important center for the Catholic faithful in France. In April 2019, extensive restoration work began, which was intended to remedy the poor condition of the building, which was caused, among other things, by severe environmental pollution. Large parts of the roof and the crossing tower were destroyed in a fire on April 15, 2019. The complex and costly reconstruction will take several years.
