Car Spa

The Maison Carrée was temple of Gallo-Roman city of Nemausus (present-day Nîmes) one of best-preserved vestiges of Roman EmpireIn 600 BC Ionian Greeks originating from Phocaea founded colony of Massalia (present-day Marseille) shores of Mediterranean Sea This makes France's oldest city same time some Gallic Celtic tribes penetrated parts of current territory of France this occupation spread rest of France between 5th 3rd century BCThe Roman-era Theatre of Autun (Latin Augustodunum) Saône-et-Loire one of main historical sites of BurgundyThe concept of Gaul emerged that time corresponds territories of Celtic settlement ranging between Rhine Atlantic Ocean Pyrenees Mediterranean borders of modern France roughly same those of ancient Gaul which was inhabited Celtic Gauls Gaul was then prosperous country of which southernmost part was heavily subject Greek Roman cultural economic influencesAround 125 BC south of Gaul was conquered Romans who called this region Provincia Nostra (Our Province) which over time evolved into name Provence French Julius Caesar conquered remainder of Gaul overcame revolt carried out Gallic chieftain Vercingetorix 52 BC Gaul was divided Augustus into Roman provinces Many cities were founded during Gallo-Roman period including Lugdunum (present-day Lyon) which considered capital of Gauls These cities were built traditional Roman style with forum theatre circus amphitheatre thermal baths Gauls mixed with Roman settlers eventually adopted Roman culture Roman speech (Latin from which French language evolved) Roman polytheism merged with Gallic paganism into same syncretismFrom 250s 280s AD Roman Gaul suffered serious crisis with its fortified borders being attacked several occasions barbarians Nevertheless situation improved first half of 4th century which was period of revival prosperity Roman Gaul312 Emperor Constantin I converted Christianity Subsequently Christians who had been persecuted until then increased rapidly across entire Roman Empire But from beginning of 5th century Barbarian Invasions resumed, Germanic tribes such Vandals Suebi Alans crossed Rhine settled Gaul Spain other parts of collapsing Roman EmpireEarly Middle Ages (5th century–10th century). See Wiktionary name of Paris various languages other than English FrenchThe name Paris derived from its early inhabitants Celtic Parisii tribecity's name not related Paris of Greek mythologyParis often referred City of Light (La Ville Lumière), both because of its leading role during Age of Enlightenment more literally because Paris was one of first European cities adopt gas street lighting.[citation needed] 1860s boulevards streets of Paris were illuminated 56,000 gas lamps Since late 19th century Paris has also been known Panam(e) (pronounced [panam]) French slangInhabitants known English Parisians French Parisiens ([paʁizjɛ̃] (About this sound listen)) They also pejoratively called Parigots ([paʁiɡo] (About this sound listen)).[note 1], Catholicism has been predominant religion France more than millennium though not actively practised today was Among 47,000 religious buildings France 94% Roman Catholic During French Revolution activists conducted brutal campaign of de-Christianisation ending Catholic Church state religion some cases clergy churches were attacked with iconoclasm stripping churches of statues ornament After back forth of Catholic royal secular republican governments during 19th century France established laïcité passage of 1905 law Separation of Churches StateSince 1905 French Government has followed principle of laïcité which prohibited from recognising any specific right religious community (except legacy statutes like those of military chaplains local law Alsace-Moselle) recognises religious organisations according formal legal criteria that do not address religious doctrine Conversely religious organisations expected refrain from intervening policy-making Certain groups such Scientology Children of God Unification Church or Order of Solar Temple considered cults (sectes French), therefore do not have same status recognised religions France Secte considered pejorative term FranceHealth.

A relief map of Metropolitan France showing cities with over 100,000 inhabitantsPanorama of Mont Blanc mountain range above gray clouds under blue sky. The lands making up French Republic shown same geographic scalePolitics Jewish (52,000) Grand EstBourgogne-Franche-Comté Paris hosted 1900 1924 Summer Olympics will host 2024 Summer Olympics Paralympic GamesThe city also hosted finals of 1938 FIFA World Cup (at Stade Olympique de Colombes) well 1998 FIFA World Cup 2007 Rugby World Cup Final (both Stade de France) Two UEFA Champions League Finals current century have also been played Stade de France 2000 2006 editions Paris has most recently been host UEFA Euro 2016 both Parc des Princes city proper also Stade de France with latter hosting opening match finalThe final stage of most famous bicycle racing world Tour de France always finishes Paris Since 1975 race has finished Champs-ElyséesTennis another popular sport Paris throughout France French Open held every year red clay of Roland Garros National Tennis Centre, one of four Grand Slam events of world professional tennis tour 17,000-seat Bercy Arena (officially named AccorHotels Arena formerly known Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy) venue annual Paris Masters ATP Tour tennis tournament has been frequent site of national international tournaments basketball boxing cycling handball ice hockey show jumping other sports Bercy Arena also hosted 2017 IIHF World Ice Hockey Championship together with Cologne Germany final stages of FIBA EuroBasket 1999 were also played Palais Omnisports de Paris-BercyThe basketball team Levallois Metropolitans plays some of its games 4,000 capacity Stade Pierre de Coubertin Another top-level professional team Nanterre 92 plays NanterreInfrastructure. ENTPE (École Nationale des Travaux Publiques de l'État), See also Paris 18th century Paris during Second Empire Haussmann's renovation of Paris! Political majority each sector since 2014 Lumière University. Théâtre des Célestins (1877) designed Gaspard André, Vélib' Place de la Bastille, native language! In 2017 Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport was second-busiest airport Europe tenth-busiest airport worldParis major international air transport hub with 5th busiest airport system world city served three commercial international airports Paris-Charles de Gaulle Paris-Orly Beauvais-Tillé Together these three airports recorded traffic of 96.5 million passengers 2014 There also one general aviation airport Paris-Le Bourget historically oldest Parisian airport closest city centre which now used only private business flights air showsOrly Airport located southern suburbs of Paris replaced Le Bourget principal airport of Paris from 1950s 1980s Charles de Gaulle Airport located edge of northern suburbs of Paris opened commercial traffic 1974 became busiest Parisian airport 1993 year 2017 was 5th busiest airport world international traffic hub nation's flag carrier Air France Beauvais-Tillé Airport located 69 kilometres (43 miles) north of Paris's city centre used charter airlines low-cost carriers such RyanairDomestically air travel between Paris some of France's largest cities such Lyon Marseille or Strasbourg has been large measure replaced high-speed rail due opening of several high-speed TGV rail lines from 1980s example after LGV Méditerranée opened 2001 air traffic between Paris Marseille declined from 2,976,793 passengers 2000 1,502,196 passengers 2014 After LGV Est opened 2007 air traffic between Paris Strasbourg declined from 1,006,327 passengers 2006 157,207 passengers 2014Internationally air traffic has increased markedly recent years between Paris Gulf airports emerging nations of Africa Russia Turkey Portugal Italy mainland China whereas noticeable decline has been recorded between Paris British Isles Egypt Tunisia JapanMotorways.