Online dictionary of France travel and tourism: paris suburb

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Beauvais Cathedral

French words: Cathédrale de Beauvais
alternative words: Cathedral of Beauvais, Beauvais
keywords: church , paris suburb , tourist resort
related web sites: http://architecture.relig.free.fr/bvs1.htm
explanation: In 1225, the bishop of Beauvais, Milon de Nanteuil decided to build the largest cathedral of the world by replacing the old Roman style church destroyed by a fire. After a collapse of the vault in 1284, supplementary props were added but soon the construction halted due to 100 year war. After a collapse of the central spire of 153m high in 1573, the ambitious construction plan was given up. Located 60 km north of Paris, Cathedral of Beauvais impresses tourists by gigantism in spite of repeated misfortunes.

Bois de Boulogne

French words: Bois de Boulogne
alternative words: Boulogne forest
keywords: paris , paris suburb , park
related topics: Longchamp racecourse
related web sites: http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bois_de_Boulogne
explanation: Until the middle ages, there had existed a vast forest in west of Paris and French kings were used to hunt there. The nearest part was named "Bois de Boulogne" because after the king Philippe IV pilgrimmed at Boulogne-sur-mer, a chapel was built there in 1315. Napoleon III assigned in 1852 the gardener Vare then the engineer Alphand to transform it to an English style garden. Covering 8460 km2, Bois de Boulogne owns a small amusement park (jardin d'acclimatation) and 2 hippodromes, Auteuil and Longchamp.

Bois de Vincennes

French words: Bois de Vincennes
alternative words: Vincennes forest
keywords: paris , paris suburb , park
related topics: Bois de Boulogne , Vincennes castle
related web sites: http://www.boisdevincennes.com , http://www.mnhn.fr
explanation: Located in east of Paris, Bois de Vincennes had been a hunting area for French kings during the middle ages. Philippe II surrounded it with walls and added a hunting lodge in 13th century. A legend says that Saint Louis would give judgements under oak trees. Napoleon III asked again in 1857 Adolphe Alphand to transform it to an English style garden like Bois de Boulogne. Covering 9950 km2, Bois de Vincennes owns zoological and floral gardens, and a hippodrome. Most of 1900 Olympic games were played there.

Compiegne castle

French words: Château de Compiègne , Palais de Compiègne , Musée de Compiègne
alternative words: Compiegne palace, Compiegne museum, Compiegne
keywords: castle , paris suburb , tourist resort
related web sites: http://www.mairie-compiegne.fr , http://www.musee-chateau-compiegne.fr
explanation: Located 50km north-east of Paris, the town of Compiegne had existed since Roman period. After the disintegration of the Empire of Franks by Verdun treaty in 843, Charles II, by inheriting the western part, fixed his capital at Compiegne. During 100 years war in 1430, Jeanne d'Arc was captured by Burgundy troops, allied to England. In 1751, King Louis XV began to rebuild Compiegne castle and achieved in 1788 by Louis XVI. The armistice to end WWI was signed in November 1918 in the forest of Compiegne nearby.

Disneyland Paris

French words: Disneyland Paris
alternative words: Euro Disneyland, Eurodisney, Paris Disneyland, Disney resorts, Disney park, Disneyland
keywords: paris suburb , park , tourist resort
related topics: RER
related web sites: http://www.disneylandparis.com , http://ww.mickey-mouse.com
explanation: Located 32km east of Paris with more than 2000 ha of surface and 42 attractions, Disneyland Paris is the unique Disney park in Europe. It was inaugurated in 1992 with the name of "Euro Disneyland" but first years were rather disastrous due to a lack of French visitors. After a name change to "Disneyland Paris" and its CEO in 1994, the result has improved. In 2002, a new park "Walt Disney Studios" was added to an adjacent area. Your can reach there with the eastern highway or a suburban train (RER).

Fontainebleau castle

French words: Château de Fontainebleau , Palais de Fontainebleau
alternative words: Fontainebleau palace, Fontainebleau, Chateau Fontainebleau
keywords: castle , human heritage , paris suburb , tourist resort
related web sites: http://www.chateaudefontainebleau.net , http://www.fontainebleau.com , http://www.fontainebleau-tourisme.com , http://users.skynet.be/ym04/fontainebleau.htm
explanation: Located 50km south east of Paris, military camps always settled at Fontainebleau and many French kings stayed there for a hunting pleasure. Though a royal manor already existed since 12th century, the French king, Francois 1st transformed it in 16th century to a large Renaissance style castle with an aid of Italian artists. Napoleon Bonaparte preferring Fontainebleau to Versailles, he received Pope Pius VII there to be sacred in 1804. He also gave farewell to his guards there in 1814 before exiling to Elba.

Grand Trianon palace

French words: Grand Trianon , Palais du Grand Trianon
alternative words: Grand Trianon
keywords: castle , human heritage , paris suburb , tourist resort
related topics: Versailles palace , Petit Trianon palace
related web sites: http://www.insecula.com/musee/M0038.html , http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Trianon
explanation: In 1670, Louis XIV asked the architect Louis le Vau to build a private palace so he could escape from a burden of protocols in Versailles Palace. The first palace covered with bleu and white faience tiles happened to be too fragile, Jules Hardouin-Mansart was charged to replace it between 1687-1688 by a flat baroque building decorated with rose marble. Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette preferred Petit Trianon. After being vandalized by French revolution, Napoleon inhabited Grand Trianon between 1805-1815.

La Defense

French words: La Défense , Paris La Défense
alternative words: Paris La Defense
keywords: building , locality , paris , paris suburb
related topics: RER
related web sites: http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_D%C3%A9fense , http://www.paris-tourisme.com/monuments/defense/ , http://monputeaux.free.fr/ladefense/
explanation: Situated on the western suburb of Paris over 3 towns (Puteaux, Nanterre and Courbevoie), La Defense is the biggest business district in Europe with 150000 workers. In order to cope a lack of office buildings in Paris, the government planed to remodel this area in 1950's. Though the first generation of towers were limited to 100m high, since 1980's, many modern buildings have been added like "Quatre Temps" and "Grande Arche" which prolongs the historic axis. You can get to La Defense by the line A of RER.

Longchamp racecourse

French words: Hippodrome de Longchamp
alternative words: Longchamp Hippodrome
keywords: paris , paris suburb , sport
related topics: Bois de Boulogne
related web sites: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippodrome_de_Longchamp
explanation: Though horse races had been already carried out at the same place, Longchamp horse race facility was built in 1857, at the place of Longchamp abbey, which had been destroyed during French revolution. Located in western Paris inside Boulogne forest park and owning 3 tracks covering 17 hectares, Longchamp organizes many prestigious courses, such as the famous purebred course, "Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe" which happens on the first weekend of each October.

Paris subway

French words: Métro de Paris
alternative words: Paris underground, Metro de Paris, Metro, Paris metro
keywords: paris , paris suburb , transport
related topics: RER , RATP
related web sites: http://www.ratp.fr
explanation: In order to ease an urban congestion, Paris decided to build its own subway in 1897 after that of London. The first line was opened in 1900 for the occasion of an universal exposition of Paris between Porte de Maillot and Porte de Vincennes. In 1935, Paris had already 13 subway lines and subsequent extensions were toward the nearest suburban areas. A full automatic 14th subway line was added in 1998. The total length of the subway is at 208km, including suburban areas, and the number of stations is 301.

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