ALBERTO MARTÍ ROMERO

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT PARIS

INDEX

1.INTRODUCTION

2.HISTORY

3.NEIGHBORHOODS

4.TOP ATTRACTIONS

5.SHOPPING

6.TOP MUSEUMS

7.FRENCH DISHES

8.PEOPLE

9.NEGOTIATING

10.THE ALBUM PHOTOS

LOCATION, FLAG AND COAT OF ARMS

Population (2007)

• Total 13,000,000 hab.

WHY VISIT PARIS?

Paris, capital of France, is one of the

most important and influential cities in the

world. In terms of tourism, Paris is the

second most visited city in Europe after

London.

The capital of France seems to have been

designed specifically for the enjoyment

of its visitors. Its streets, squares,

buildings, gardens and monuments beckon

tourists to return, and indeed, many do.

HISTORY OF PARIS

FOUNDATION

The history of Paris dates back to

approximately 259 BC, when the

Parisii, a Celtic tribe settled on

the banks of the Seine. In 52 BC,

the fishermen village

was conquered by the Romans,

founding a Gallo-Roman town

called Lutetia.

The city changed its name to Paris

during the fourth century. During this

period, the city was threatened by

Attila the Hun and his army, and

according to the legend, the

inhabitants of Paris resisted the

attacks thanks to the providential

intervention of Saint Geneviève

(patron saint of the city).

In 508, the first king of the Franks,

Clovis I made Paris the capital of his

empire. In 987, the Capetian dynasty

came to power until 1328.

During the eleventh century, Paris

gradually became more prosper

thanks to its trade in silver and

because it was a strategic route for

pilgrims and traders.

THE DECLINE OF THE MONARCHY

As a consequence of the

Fronde, poverty spread

throughout Paris. During

this period, there was an

explosion of the

Enlightenment philosophical

movement, whose principles

are based on reason,

equality and freedom.

Philosophers and

authors such as Voltaire,

Rousseau, Diderot and

Montesquieu fostered the

Enlightenment, creating a

need for a socio-economic

equality that lead to the

revolution and the decline of

the divine right monarchy.

PARIS DURING NAPOLEON

During the following fifteen years,

Napoleon enlarged the Place du

Carrousel, built two Arcs de Triomphe, a

column, several markets, the Paris

bourse and a few slaughter houses.

The Napoleonic Wars – and with it the

Empire of Napoleon – ended on 20

November, 1815, after Napoleon was

defeated at the Battle of Waterloo, and

the second Treaty of Paris of 1815 was

signed.

URBAN DEVELOPMENT

On the 28 January, 1871, Paris was

conquered by the Prussian troops and a

few years later (at the end of 1800), the

Third Republic was proclaimed. With

the new government, an era of

economic growth began for the city,

promoting the construction of the Eiffel

Tower in 1889, worldwide symbol of

Paris.

CONTEMPORARY PARIS

During World War I, the city

resisted the German offensives.

However, in 1940, Paris was

occupied by the Nazis, although

the Parisians resisted and freed

the capital on 25 August ,1944.

During the months of May and June

1968, a series of protests took place in

the capital of France, known as “May

68”. This was the largest student

protest in the history of France and,

possibly, the rest of Western Europe.

PARIS NEIGHBORHOODS

THE BEST NEIGHBORHOODS IN PARIS

Île de la Cité

The Île de la Cité is one of the natural

islands found on the River Seine. This

is the heart of France’s capital and

where the city was founded.

THE BEST NEIGHBORHOODS IN PARIS

Île Saint-Louis

Smaller and cosier than its neighboring

Île de la Cité, the Île Saint-Louis is a

haven of peace and tranquility in the

heart of Paris.

THE BEST NEIGHBORHOODS IN PARIS

Latin Quarter

The “Quartier Latin” (Latin Quarter) is

one of the oldest districts in Paris. Full

of bars and restaurants, the Latin

Quarter is one of the top places to go

out at night.

THE BEST NEIGHBORHOODS IN PARIS

Montmartre

Known as the painter’s neighborhood,

Montmartre houses some of the oldest

cabarets in Paris and the Sacré-

Coeur Basilica (Sacred Heart).

THE BEST NEIGHBORHOODS IN

PARIS

La Défense

With hundreds of skyscrapers, La

Défense is one of the major business

districts in Europe

THE BEST NEIGHBORHOODS IN PARIS

Champs-Élysées

The Champs-Élysées

is 1.2 miles (1.9 km)

long and is the most

beautiful and well-

known avenue in

Paris. It is also one of

the world’s most

famous commercial

streets.

THE BEST NEIGHBORHOODS IN PARIS

Place de la Concorde

Situated between the Champs-

Élysées and the Tuileries Garden,

the Place de la Concorde is one

of the major public squares in the

city. During the French

Revolution, the guillotine was

erected here.

THE BEST NEIGHBORHOODS IN PARIS

The Marais and Place des Vosges

The Marais is one of the trendiest

and most cosmopolitan

neighborhoods in Paris. The Place

des Vosges, one of the district’s

most famous squares, is also the

oldest in Paris.

THE BEST NEIGHBORHOODS IN PARIS

TOP ATTRACTIONS IN PARIS

Eiffel Tower

Over a century old, the Eiffel

Tower has become the city’s

icon and the most visited

monument in the world.

TOP ATTRACTIONS IN PARIS

Notre Dame Cathedral

Notre Dame Cathedral is the

country’s most important

gothic cathedral. Designed

during the twelfth century, it

took nearly a hundred years

to finish building.

TOP ATTRACTIONS IN PARIS

Arc de Triomphe

The two-century-

old Arc de

Triomphe has

witnessed the

city’s most

relevant turning

points. It has

become, along with

the Eiffel Tower,

one of the symbols

of Paris.

TOP ATTRACTIONS IN PARIS

Sacré-Coeur Basilica

The Basilica of the Sacred Heart

of Paris is a popular landmark

in Paris and is situated at the

top of the Montmartre hill.

TOP ATTRACTIONS IN PARIS

Palace of Versailles

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the

Palace of Versailles is one of the world’s

most famous palaces. At the end of

World War I, the signing of Peace, the

Treaty of Versailles took place here.

TOP ATTRACTIONS IN PARIS

Disneyland Paris is

an entertainment

resort with two

amusement

parks: Disneyland

and Walt Disney

Studios. It also

includes several

hotels and

restaurants.

SHOPPING IN PARIS

Paris is one of the top

destinations for

shopping, especially for

those who are looking for

high-end stores and

items by famous fashion

designers. In this section,

we’ll take a look at the

shops, high streets and

where to buy different

productsGaleries Lafayette (Boulevard

Haussmann 40): Declared historic

monument thanks to its spectacular

Neo-Byzantine dome, Galeries

Lafayette is one of the most visited

department stores in the world. It is

worthwhile visiting the building, even if

you don’t plan to buy anything.

TOP THREE MUSEUMS IN PARIS (1)

The Louvre

The Louvre Museum is one

of the most visited museums

in the world. The Louvre

features paintings that have

had a deep impact on the

history of art and therefore,

it is a definite must-see.

TOP THREE MUSEUMS IN PARIS (2)

Musée d’Orsay

Housed in an old railway station and

specialized in the nineteenth century,

the Orsay Museum covers the artistic

period between the Louvre collection

and the Centre Pompidou collection.

TOP THREE MUSEUMS IN PARIS (3)

Centre Pompidou

Also known as Beaubourg or the

Pompidou Centre in English, this

museum houses one of the best

modern and contemporary art

collections in the world.

TRADITIONAL FRENCH DISHES

French cuisine is

considered to be one of

the best in the world,

making Paris one of the

top international

culinary capitals

worldwide.

French cooking is full-

flavored and varied

thanks to the fresh

ingredients and the

country’s cultural

diversity.

TRADITIONAL FRENCH DISHES

NATIONAL DISH

ONION SOUP

TRADITIONAL FRENCH DISHES

These are some of France’s most famous

and traditional dishes:

Foie gras: fattened duck or goose liver.

Boeuf Bourguignon: known in English as

Burgundy beef is beef stewed in red wine.

Escargots: snails.

Croque-monsieur: baked or fried ham

and cheese sandwich.

Quiche Lorraine: savoury open pie made

of eggs, cream and other ingredients such

as bacon, cheese or different varieties of

vegetables.

TRADITIONAL FRENCH DISHES

•Fromage: cheese.

•Coq au vin: chicken and vegetable casserole

cooked in wine.

•Pot-au-feu: beef stew with vegetables.

•Brioche: pastry made of eggs, baking powder,

milk and sugar.

•Tarte Tatin: thin caramelised apple pie.

•Ratatouille: stewed dish made of aubergines,

tomato, courgette, peppers and basil.

•Crepe: thin type of flour pancake that can be

filled with savoury or sweet ingredients.

TRADITIONAL FRENCH DISHES

Patisseries and pastries

One of the most exquisite French foods is the

bread, pastries and desserts. Paris has

thousands of boulangeries and patisseries

(bakeries) where visitors will be able to enjoy

some of the most delicious sweet goodies just

out of the oven.

We recommend all travellers to try the

brioche and the renowned pain au chocolat,

similar to a croissant, but with an oozing

chocolate center. A curious fact is that the

famous croissant is originally from Austria

not from France.

PEOPLE BORN IN PARIS

Cardenal Richelieu Georges Bizet Charles Perrault

Maurice Ravel Blaise Pascal Molière

PEOPLE BORN IN PARIS

Roman Polanski Edgar Degas Edouard Manet

Oscar Monet Paul Gauguin Maurice Chevalier

NEGOTIATE WITH FRANCE!

French character is attributed to a certain

arrogance and attitude of superiority: it is

what is known as the Grandeur. The reality

is that their contributions to history, culture,

art, philosophy, literature and gastronomy

are essential.

NEGOTIATE WITH FRANCE!

PROTOCOL STANDARDS

The form of greeting is the handshake, though not as

strong as in Germany or the United States. When women

are greeted it is not expect that they are offerred the

hand first. Kisses on the cheeks, known as encores,

actually consist on stroking the cheek against each other

and kiss the air three times.

They are used in a context of family and friends. It would be very

impolite to use them with suppliers or customers.

• The expressions most commonly used as greetings are Comment

allez-vous? (How are you ?) and more informally bonjour ( "good

morning", which is also used how hello!) Or ça va? (What?)

NEGOTIATE WITH FRANCE!

• Treatment is

formal. Persons are presented by name, which precedes the titles of

Monsieur (Lord), Madame (Mrs.) and Mademoiselle (Miss) -this last only

used for young, unmarried girls. These titles are still used during

conversation to address people, sometimes without adding the name.

• It is essential to treat people of You (Vous), although they are known for

some time.

• Eye contact is very frequent and intense, so that foreigners who are not

accustomed to looking in the eye, may feel intimidated.

The exchange of cards is common. French card included in their academic

degrees, especially if they are prestigious schools.

NEGOTIATE WITH FRANCE!

Sometimes, if it can be avoided it is better not to speak in English because of the great rivalry they have

with the Anglo-Saxon world. It is preferable to try to understand French or Spanish; on the other hand, if

you do not speak French it is desirable to apologize for it, as they have in high esteem their language.

Some topics that can be used as small talk. For example, on the favorable outcome of a local football

team. At the beginning of the conversation is frowned give compliments, ell it turned out the last order.

• It is also good to praise the country in general. Unlike the Germans who believe that "everything

German is good," the French consider that "everything good is French".

• Favorite topics of conversation are history, art, sports (football and cycling) and gastronomy. Should be

prepared to answer witty comments on wines from other countries in relation to the French. Avoid talking

about politics, money or people.

• The most common food business is at noon (déjeuner). It is preferable that the French host that start

business conversation, although it is not frowned upon it does the foreign visitor..

NEGOTIATE WITH FRANCE!

• The French cuisine is famous worldwide for exquisiteness and variety of their

dishes. In a restaurant the most expensive dish should not be chosen nor forget to

praise the gastronomic delights..

Positive sample some of their favorites as

snails or oysters dishes. One of the most

typical dishes is the cassoulet, roast beef with

beans.

NEGOTIATE WITH FRANCE!

• In the table forms should be much beware. Do not eat or drink excessively.

Lettuce is not cut with the knife, folded into small pieces. At the end of the meal a

cheese tray passed: the rule is that you just have to serve once.

• There is no tradition of gifts between companies. In any case delivered once

agreement has been reached -the gifts with the company logo they are not very

prized-.

If you are invited to a house must not take wine or perfume (they are his

specialty). Chocolates, liquor or flowers (roses or chrysanthemums except)

can be a good choice.

THE PARIS PHOTO ALBUM

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WRITTEN, PRODUCED AND DIRECTED BY:

ALBERTO MARTI

ROMERO