The current capital of France was born from a small manufacturer's celtic village installed on an island in the Seine. The inhabitants took advantage of surrounding orchards, an axis of north-south passage which connects the major trade routes.Soon they developped policies and activity on the river bringing in more efficient military protection, labor, clean water and fresh fish. This village which swells up to become todays  largest French city bears the mark of the glories and mistakes of the country. It recounts the struggles between the city and state, fears and certainties of its kings, the wonders and woes of the people in Paris who have always vigorously defended its right to decide his fate.

The history of Paris, which is often confused with that of the country, keeping in mind its monuments through fear of invasion and the subsequent appeal of the homes of kings as the most vibrant commercial areas.
What is striking is the persistence of some urban facts: places of worship, meeting places, places of political influence. but also the ability of some men to boost urban policies which are often a reflection of their political ambitions: Philip Augustus, Charles V, Napoleon III and his chief of police, Haussmann marked the city of their footprint. More recently, perhaps because he understood the issue of memory that provides planning, Francois Mitterrand has also changed some face in Paris. "Solange Lelierre

The Montfleuri is located on the axis of the Champs Elysees and the Arch of La Defense.
The Champs Elysees are formed by the prospect that stretches between Place de la Concorde and the Arc de Triomphe on Place Charles de Gaulle, as well as the surroundings of Champs Elysees. There is the Grand and Petit Palais, Gardens and theatres.

The Avenue of Champs Elysees
Marie de Medicis in 1616 gave impetus to the creation of the Court of Queen's. This promenade extending to the Place de l'Alma is part of a design bridle from the Jardin des Tuileries. It is open to the public when the Court is'nt there. In 1667, Le Notre extends the perspective of the Tuileries, which is a plain, while fields and marshes are planted with trees and called Grand Court until 1709 where it became known as the Champs Elysees by reference to the residence of souls virtuous mythologies of Greek and Latin. It was not until 1828 that the city acquires the avenue and gives its urban infrastructure (sidewalks, gas lights, fountains) designed to make it the place of parades of the rich society of the Second Empire. This is where the Universal Exhibitions held in 1884, 1855, 1867, 1900 took place.

Today, this avenue is one of the favorite places for the parisiensto take a walk, a certain state of mind remains on the "Fields" that are home to numerous luxury boutiques and are being invested at major occasions for parades July 14, but especially in 1944 during the Liberation Parade, or the parade commemorating the bicentenary of 1789.
The avenue is impressive and between the roundabout and the Star it stretches 71 meters wide on a major east-west. However, there remains nothing except No. 25 entertainment venues and luxurious mansions of the Second Empire that opened directly onto the garden, which makes the neighborhood look great.

Palais de l'Elysee
The building of the XVIIIs experienced many owners including Madame de Pompadour and Napoleon III. It was in this palace that Napoleon signed his abdication after Waterloo. He is currently the Paris home of the Presidents of the French Republic. There is no visit to this building.

Le Petit Palais and Grand Palais
They both were born after the Universal Exhibition of 1878 because that's when we decided to build permanent structures for the ministry of  paris of the minisry of industry. Both buildings reflect the architecture of XIXs: a structure of metal with a neo classical stone facade. The Grand Palais is a collective work, which explains the mix of kind of facade. From 1937, the Grand Palais welcomes the Palace of Discovery which has been established later at the center of La Villette Museum in Paris. The Grand Palace welcomes temporary exhibitions on its 5000m2 and is among the cultural centers of Paris.
Le Petit Palais, which houses originally the flag of the City of Paris offers a representative architecture of XIXs is of little interest. The collections presented allow visitors to admire the paintings of artists of XIXs, Courbet, Delacroix, Ingres, Impressionists.
Visits : +33 01 40 74 80 00
Petit Palais : +33 01 42 65 12 73

Jardin des Champs Elysees
This first garden created by Le Notre becomes the XVIII's place of fashionable promenade. Luxurious hotels  are built rue du Faubourg Saint Honore. Hittorf the architect,redeveloped the garden but was finaly reshaped by Adolphe Alphand, supervised by Haussmann. Remaining of that period are the two  restaurants , LE DOYEN and LAURENT.As well two theatres were built on the roundabout by Davioud and Garnier, they also remain.

Place Charles de Gaulle
Until the late XVIII's Place de l'Etoile, which takes its name from its shape of five pointed star is a mound of earth that greets a crossroads outside Paris. Upon creation of the Place Louis XV (Concorde), the architect Gabriel makes only one regular slope joins the Place Louis XV and the Pont de Neuilly. Between 1768 and 1774  clipping the mound and he creates a circular plaza under the orders of the engineer Perronet. In 1787, during construction of the enclosure of the Farmers General, Ledoux provision establishes two pavilions on the site. Those are demolished and reconstructed Porte Maillot. It is Hittorf that develops facades around the square.
In 1806 Napoleon, the conqueror of Austerlitz decides the erection of the Arc de Triomphe. The political, financial and military situation in the country stop the construction.It lasted until 1833. At the death of Napoleon, his body goes under the arch at the funeral. Similarly the remains of Victor Hugo were exposed a day under the Arc de Triomphe, covered in black .Since 1920, under the Arc rests the body of the Unknown Soldier for which the flame of remembrance burns since 1923. On the platform of the Arch is a magnificent view of Paris, since lies midway and at the highest point of view extending from the Louvre to La Défense.
Visits : +33 01 43 80 31 31

La Grande Arche de la Defense
Built by the Danish architect Otto von Spreckelsen, it is placed at the end of the perspective opened by the Louvre. It is at the heart of a recent business district and residential complex that spans 800 acres on the common Puteaux and Courbevoie. The neighborhood is named after a monument erected in 1871 by Barrier to the memory of Defence of Paris, this monument adorns the roundabout to the beginning of the great works of the district.
La Grande Arche in itself is a large cubic structure 110m high concrete covered with glass and white marble from Carrara. It is based on twelve pillars located in the sub-sol.The arche is sufficiently high for the Notre Dame Cathedral to hold between its walls. The whole square is occupied by all the dimensions which reduces excessive man to very modest proportions.
Visits : +33 01 49 07 27 57