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The 16th century and the Italian Renaissance will terminate the Middle Age period. Sciences, arts and major discoveries are glorified; ideas and knowledge travel across countries and oceans.
In this effervescence, Paris goes keeps developping and becomes a first stage city nationwide, it is now a major city where political power lies.
King François the 1rst (1515 to 1547) inspired by his many travels to Italy, start to re-think the urbanism and architecture of Paris and insufflates a wind of knowledge on the city, supporting the pulse of a new intellectual life, as show the construction of the Sorbonne University.
At the beginning of the 17th century, a genuine construction fever takes the whole city and Paris is enhanced with magnificent constructions : Louvre museum Paris, Tuileries Paris, Botanical garden Paris, Luxembourg garden Paris, and Palais-Royal, the Marais area and its numerous town houses, the Place des Vosges and Place Dauphine.
Paradoxically, it is under the great King Louis XIV (1643-1715), that constructions slowed down in the Paris, the King having decided to build his castle and set up his court on the outskirt of Paris, in Versailles.
With over 500,000 inhabitants, Paris will keep florishing and will remain the center of the intellectual and cultural life, whereas the distance between the King's court and the city will separate the nobles and the people.
Lutetia the Gallo Romane, Paris in the Middle Age, Paris in the 19th century
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