Saturday, November 05, 2005

Paris in the middle ages


Today I offer you a jump in the past and more precisely in the middle ages! At that time Paris had about 200 000 inhabitants and was the largest city of Europe (together with Naples); as you may know, the city was mostly built on an island (l'île de la cité) on the river Seine. You could also find inhabitants on the left bank (where the Romans used to live when they occupied the country) and on the right bank where the port was located. During the 13th century a university was built on the left bank and that is where students used to go to learn Latin; since then it is known as the "Latin Quarter". By the way, this photo is actually a mock up that I shot in the Carnavalet Museum in the center of Paris (3rd arrondissement) and that I already showed some time ago from a different angle.

9 comments:

  1. I am a total sucker for dioramas such as this one. I went to the Musée Carnavalet for the first time this past Spring, and really loved it. And, if I recall, it is free, right?

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  2. Ah, le Quartier Latin... my old hang out... Now you're taking me way back!!! I think that area of Paris will always have a special place in my heart, not only because it reminds me my childhood and my youth, but also because of all the history and all the charm some of these narrow streets exude, something that clearly doesn't exist in more modern cities.

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  3. Hummm, Elisabeth and Tomate Farcie, the usual suspects paying their daily visit to Eric's blog. Hello girls!

    Flocon

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  4. Hello Flocon! Yup, you got me. Gotta have my daily fix of Friendly-Paris :)

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  5. A very nice picture of Paris in XVIIIth century indeed !
    ;o)

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  6. Cool guestbook, interesting information... Keep it UP
    » » »

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