Cite Island: description, attractions, photo

The island of Cité, whose photo can be seen in the article, is on the River Seine, almost in the heart of Paris. It is called the heart of the capital of France. The island is considered the oldest part of the city, because it was from him that Paris was born. Sita can safely be called a historical center. This place is one of the main ones that attract the attention of numerous tourists.

On the island of Cite is a large number of historical and architectural monuments. Many art and documentary films are being shot to this day.

Short description

Cité is an island a quarter of a square kilometer in area. Here there are many ancient buildings, thanks to which the atmosphere of romance reigns in the air. The island is connected by nine bridges with both banks of the Seine and the neighboring island of Saint-Louis. According to the administrative division, Cite is included in the 1st and 4th municipal districts of Paris. The division takes place along the Boulevard du Palais.

Notre Dame Cathedral

In the first century BC. E. The island was inhabited by the Gauls. Later it became part of the Roman Empire. And at the beginning of the last millennium, it began to be actively built up. These buildings still adorn the island of Cite. Sights here at every turn. The most famous building, perhaps not only the island, but the whole of Paris - the Cathedral of the Notre Dame, which was built almost two centuries. Its construction began in 1163. Tourists from all over the world are flocking day and night to look at a sample of the classic Gothic structure. The cathedral had several construction leaders, each striving to add something of its own to perpetuate its own name. It is in this building that many scenes develop from Victor Hugo's famous novel Notre Dame de Paris.

Chapel of Saint Chapelle

Among other attractions of the island of Cité you can see the Gothic chapel of Saint-Chapelle. It is one of the most beautiful Gothic buildings. The structure is quite small. The chapel was erected in the XIII century.

The Palace of Justice

The civil building of the Palace of Justice is the largest structure, occupying almost half of the island's territory. Construction was conducted for several centuries. Looking at the building that adorns the island of Cite, one can see a mixture of architectural styles of different eras. Judicial proceedings that took place in the Palace were interesting to a large circle of the French public. And all because among the accused at different times were such famous personalities as writer Emil Zola, spy Mata Hari, sentenced to death in the courtroom, as well as many famous French politicians and military.

Dauphin Square and Concierge Castle

The island of Cité will surprise visitors and the most beautiful square, which has the romantic name Dauphin. Today it is a place of a large cluster of artists. They offer tourists their work, and there are many souvenir dealers here.

Concierges - a building built as a castle for French kings. Subsequently, it became a prison for many high-ranking nobles. Now the building is an architectural monument, there is a museum here.

Climatic features

The climate and weather conditions of the Cité are in general not different from the average Parisian indicators. The coldest month is January. But even at this time the island of Cité pleases the townspeople and guests with a temperature above zero. The hottest month is July. But the most favorable time for visiting Paris in general and its individual attractions is August. In the last summer month it is not as hot as in the middle of the season. Along with this August - the favorite time for holidays of native Parisians. And this means that the population of the city is decreasing, and tourists can walk with great comfort in various picturesque places of the island.

Some facts from the history of the island

The population of the island is a little over 1,000 people. Whereas a few centuries ago it was the most populous area of the city. During the reign of Napoleon III there was a destruction of residential buildings on the island. This was done at the behest of Baron Osman, whom the emperor appointed the prefect of the capital of France. In search of a new home, the island of Sita left more than twenty thousand inhabitants. Constructing the city with new buildings, the Baron did not forget about the tourists: he owned the idea of leaving a built-up area on all sides of the Notre Dame Cathedral. Now this structure can be seen from different angles in all splendor.

Let's sum up the results

Of course, there are no industrial and public transport facilities on the island. In its center is the station of the Paris Metro. To get to the island you can from anywhere in the city, thanks to the nine bridges that are erected over the Seine, and the automobile New Bridge is the only one that crosses the whole of the Seine. Cite is a flatland island, and movement along it should not become difficult.