Was Jean Marie Kerling just a name on a street sign? Or did he represent something more significant to the town of Le Plessis-Robinson? This is Rue Jean Marie Kerling. It is a street in Le Plessis-Robinson France.
Rue Jean Marie Kerling may seem like just another street. However every street has a story. This one is no different. Streets in Paris often whisper tales of the past.
Paris is a treasure trove of history. It stretches back to Celtic Gauls and Romans. It has seen revolutions and world wars. Paris has seen its fair share of bloodshed. This city is more than just romance.
The history of Paris is complex. The original settlement dates back to 8000 BC. Archeologists found it in the 15th arrondissement. The Parisii a Celtic tribe settled on the banks of the Seine. This happened during the Iron Age.
The Romans conquered Paris in 58 BC. They changed its name to Lutetia. Lutetia was not very important. Lyon was the capital at that time. Lyon was called Lugdunum.
Saint Genevieve became the protectrice of Paris. She persuaded Parisians to resist. This was during an attack by Attila the Hun.
Clovis I was the first King of the Franks. He converted to Christianity. Paris became his capital in 508 AD. It was a strategic position on the River Seine.
Paris used to be surrounded by city walls. These walls gradually expanded. Today Paris is surrounded by a highway. It is called the Boulevard Péripherique.
King Charlemagne preferred Aix-la-Chapelle. Paris lost importance. The capital moved to Aix-la-Chapelle.
Paris became an economic powerhouse in the Middle Ages. It was a major trade center. The Châtteau du Louvre was built to protect trade.
The Latin Quarter became a European center of learning. Universities popped up on the Left Bank. Paris became a principal center of learning.
King Louis IX brought holy relics to Paris. He built Sainte Chapelle to hold them.
The Knights Templars were arrested and judged in Paris. Jacques de Molay was executed. He was burnt at a stake.
The Plague and the Hundred Years’ War struck Paris. The city was struck by catastrophes.
François I made Paris his official residence. He brought the Louvre up to Renaissance standards. Paris became a cultural center for art.
King Henry IV said Paris is worth a mass. He converted from Protestant to Catholic.
Pont Neuf is the oldest bridge in Paris. It was built in 1607. Sun King Louis XIV moved from Paris to Versailles. He distrusted Paris.
Paris became the first city to install street lighting. It earned the nickname City of Lights.
Parisians turned against the Monarchy. They started the French Revolution. The storming of the Bastille signaled the start.
Arc de Triomphe became a rallying point. It served both French and foreign armies. Napoleon commissioned it to commemorate his victories.
There is an extensive network of tunnels. They are called the Catacombs of Paris. Many of Paris’s classic buildings were designed by Baron Haussman. He was hired to knock down medieval neighborhoods.
The Champs Élysées used to be rural countryside. The Palais de l’Élysée became the 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.
So, as you walk along Rue Jean Marie Kerling remember that it connects to a city with a long and rich history. It has been shaped by countless events and people. Jean Marie Kerling is a small part of this history.