Île de la Cité, River island in 1st arrondissement of Paris, France
The Île de la Cité is an elongated island in the center of Paris, surrounded by both banks of the Seine and connected by several stone bridges. On its surface stand buildings from different centuries packed closely together, narrow lanes and small squares between tall walls.
The Parisii settled here around two hundred years before Christ and called the place Lutetia, before it grew further under Roman rule. In the Middle Ages the island became the spiritual and political center, where kings governed and cathedrals were built.
The name comes from the Latin Civitas, meaning city or inhabited core, since old Paris began here. Today around one hundred people live permanently on the island, while thousands walk through its squares, bridges and lanes every day.
The island is best reached on foot via the many bridges connecting it to the left and right banks. The lanes are narrow and often crowded, especially on weekends and sunny days in spring and summer.
A small bronze star outside the main portal of the cathedral marks Point Zero, from which all distances in France are measured. Many visitors throw a coin on it and wish to return to Paris one day.
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