The island of Cité, whose photo you can see in the article, is located on the River Seine, almost in the very center 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 be called the historical center. This place is one of the main ones that attract the attention of many tourists.
On the island of Cite there are a large number of historical and architectural monuments. Here to this day, many artistic and documentary films are shot.
Short description
Cite is a quarter-square-kilometer island. There are many ancient buildings, thanks to which the atmosphere of romance reigns in the air. The island is connected by nine bridges to both banks of the Seine and the neighboring island of Saint-Louis. According to the administrative division, Cité is included in the 1st and 4th municipal districts of Paris. This division passes along the boulevard du Palais.
Notre Dame Cathedral
In the first century BC. e. the island was inhabited by tribes of the Gauls. He later became part of the Roman Empire. And at the beginning of the last millennium he began to actively build up. These buildings still adorn the island of Cité. Attractions are here at every turn. The most famous building, perhaps not only of the island, but of the whole of Paris is the Notre Dame Cathedral, which was built for almost two centuries. Its construction began in 1163. Tourists from all over the world flock day and night to look at an example of a classic Gothic structure. The cathedral had several construction managers, each seeking to add something of their own in order to perpetuate their own name. It is in this building that many scenes from the famous novel by Victor Hugo's "Notre Dame de Paris" develop.
Chapel Saint Chapelle
Among the other attractions of the island of Cité, you can highlight the Gothic chapel of Saint-Chapelle. She is one of the most beautiful Gothic buildings. The structure is quite small in size. The chapel was erected in the 13th century.
Palace of Justice
The civil building of the Palace of Justice is the largest building, occupying almost half of the island. The construction was carried out over several centuries. Looking at the building that adorns the island of Cite, you can see a mixture of architectural styles of different eras. The court proceedings that took place at the Palace were of interest to a large circle of the French public. And all because the defendants at different times included such famous personalities as the writer Emil Zola, the spy Mata Hari, who was sentenced to death in the courtroom, as well as many well-known French politicians and the military.
Dauphin Square and Concierge Castle
Cité Island will surprise guests with its beautiful square, which has the romantic name Dauphin. Today it is a place of a large concentration of artists. They offer tourists their work, there are also many souvenir dealers.
Concierges are a building built as a castle for French kings. Subsequently, it became a prison for many high-ranking noblemen. Now the building is an architectural monument, there is a museum.
Climatic features
The climate and weather conditions of the Cité as a whole do not differ from the Paris average. The coldest month is January. But even at this time, the island of Cité delights citizens and guests with temperatures above zero. July is considered the hottest month. But the most favorable time for visiting Paris as a whole and its individual attractions is August. The last summer month is not as hot as the middle of the season. Along with this, August is a favorite time for holidays of indigenous Parisians. This means that the population of the city is decreasing, and tourists can walk with great comfort around the various picturesque places of the island.
Some facts from the history of the island
The population of the island is just over 1,000 people. Whereas a few centuries ago it was the most populated area of the city. During the reign of Napoleon III, the destruction of residential buildings on the island. This was done by order of Baron Osman, whom the emperor appointed prefect of the capital of France. In search of a new home, the island of Cite left more than twenty thousand inhabitants. While building up the city with new buildings, the baron did not forget about the tourists: he belonged to the idea of leaving the square not built up on all sides of Notre Dame Cathedral. Now this building can be seen from different angles in all its splendor.
To summarize
Of course, there are no industrial enterprises and public transport on the island. In its center is the Paris metro station. You can get to the island from anywhere in the city, thanks to nine bridges that are built over the Seine, and the automobile New Bridge is the only one that crosses the whole of Seine. Sita is a flat island, and movement on it should not become difficult.