the Architecture of Paris

A detailed Summary of the Architecture of Paris

The 1998/1999 academic year was spent by myself and four companions in Paris. This period of my life still evokes nostalgic memories and as a result the city will forever remain as one of my favourite destinations. When faced with the task of composing an essay about a factor of Paris that affected me, I was first tempted to describe one of the negative aspects of the city (it has more than its fare share) such as the ugly face of racism or the seemingly common practise of nepotism and corruption in politics; however such a critique would in no way be a just reflection on my true sentiments concerning the place! It is for this reason that I have chosen as my subject matter the thing that enchanted me when I exited the Eurostar terminal for the first time and continued to do so for the remainder of my stay: The Parisian architecture. Unfortunately, I have no in dept knowledge of architectural intricacies or terminology therefore this will be the view of a novice which is perhaps apt as one does not need to be an expert to appreciate the beauty of Paris which is amenable to all. For this reason it would perhaps be more exact to describe the chosen subject matter as a brief glimpse of the charm and appeal of the city's buildings and

It is widely acknowledged that Paris has no centre in the way that Westminster would be to London and Manhattan to New York. The river Seine creating a Right Bank divides it into two however and a left bank of equal importance with the Isle de la Cite situated in between. Symbolically at least this little islet can act as a centre with its imposing cathedral Notre Dame acting as the centre of the compass. Notre Dame stands on a location that has been a place of Prayer for approximately the last 2000 years (perhaps explaining the reputed poignancy of the Millennium prayers conducted at the cathedral). A "Gallow-Roman temple was succeeded by an Early Christian Basilica, then a Romanesque church, and finally by the present cathedral" which was founded by Bishop Maurice de Sully in 1163. Many great celebrations have taken place in this superlative example of gothic art including the mass taken by Pope Jean Paul the II in 1980. In 1831 due to a revived interest in the decaying cathedral generated by Victor Hugo's Notre Dame, the building was renovated and controversially altered in some areas by Viollet-le-Duc creating what we see today.

One of the chief reasons that most areas in Paris fail to disappoint even the most sceptical and determined critics boils down to the design of the apartment houses that are often awe inspiring. Apartments are the predominant mode of accommodation in a city twice as small as London but which contains a similar population size. Many examples of early renaissance Parisian architecture still survives today intact however the city dwellers were either very rich or very poor and subsequently resided in either splendid Italianesque houses or slums. It is mainly the seventeenth century therefore that witnesses the birth of the apartment flat that today houses the vast majority of its inhabitants. Some early examples in the rue Francois Miron that were inspired by the Places Royales (instigated by Henry IV) have stood the test of time. Similarly there are still remainders of 18th century apartments however the vast majority of Paris' urban expansion dates from the 19th century to accommodate the huge population inf

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Approximate Word count = 1455
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: History