Here lies a haven of peace. Avenue Eugène Thomas offers a serene escape within Paris.
Avenue Eugène Thomas is located in the 12th arrondissement of Paris. This Parisian space offers more than meets the eye.
Let’s talk about Paris itself. The history of Paris stretches back millennia. The oldest settlement dates back to 8000 BC. Archeologists found it in the 15th arrondissement. During the Iron Age, the Parisii, a Celtic tribe, settled on the banks of the Seine.
The Romans conquered Paris in 58 BC. They renamed it Lutetia. Paris was a tiny dot on the map then. You can still see ancient walls and ruins in the 5th arrondissement and Ile de la Cité.
Saint Genevieve became the protectress of Paris. She persuaded Parisians to resist Attila the Hun’s army in 451 AD. She led a prayer marathon to divert the Hun army.
Clovis I, the first King of the Franks, made Paris his capital in 508 AD. Paris became a major economic powerhouse in the Middle Ages. Trade flourished along the river.
King Charlemagne preferred Aix-la-Chapelle in the 8th century. Paris lost its importance as the capital moved.
The Château du Louvre was built to protect trade in 1190. It defended against invasions. Paris’s Latin Quarter became a European center of learning in the 12th and 13th centuries.
King Louis IX brought holy relics to Paris in 1239. He built Sainte Chapelle to house them. The Knights Templars were arrested and judged in Paris in 1307.
The 14th century brought the plague and the Hundred Years’ War. Paris was struck by two great catastrophes.
François I made Paris his official residence in 1528. He brought the Louvre up to Renaissance standards. King Henry IV famously said “Paris is worth a mass”. He converted from Protestant to Catholic.
The Pont Neuf is the oldest bridge in Paris. It was constructed in 1607. Sun King Louis XIV moved from Paris to Versailles.
Paris became the first city to install street lighting in 1665. It earned the nickname “City of Lights.” Parisians turned against the monarchy and started the French Revolution. The storming of the Bastille signaled its beginning.
The Arc de Triomphe became a rallying point for French and foreign armies. Napoleon Bonaparte commissioned it in 1806. There is an extensive network of tunnels under the city called the Catacombs of Paris. Many of Paris’s classic buildings were designed by Baron Haussman.
The Champs Elysées used to be rural countryside. The Palais de l’Elysée became the official home of the French President. The Palais des Tuileries was destroyed during the Paris Commune protests. The Eiffel Tower was supposed to be temporary.
Paris’s Metro dates back to 1900. The city was under attack in WWI. Paris was occupied during WWII. Today, Paris continues to be the center of government.
Remember Eugène Atget? From 1898 until his death in 1927, Atget captured store fronts, residential areas, establishments and parks.
Avenue Eugène Thomas offers you a quiet moment. Reflect on the historical richness of Paris. This avenue is more than just a location. It’s a connection to the city’s vibrant story.