PARIS (anciently, Lutetia Parisi orum), the capital of France and of the department of the Seine. The city lies in the Seine valley surrounded by heights, those on the N. being Charonne La Villette, the Buttes-Chaumont and Montmartre, those on the S. St. Gene vieve, Montrouge, and the Butte-aux Cailles. Through the valleys between these heights the river runs from E. to W., inclosing two islands, upon which part of the city is built. It is navigable by small steamers. The quays or em bankments, which extend along the Seine on both sides, being built of solid mas onry, protect the city from inundation and form excellent promenades. The river, which within the city is fully 530 feet in width, is crossed by numerous bridges, the more important being Pont Neuf, Pont des Arts, Pont du Carrousel, Pont Royal, Pont de l'Alma, etc. The city is surrounded by a line of fortifica tions which measures 22 mile's; outside of this is the enceinte, while beyond that again are the detached forts. These now form two main lines of defense. The inner line consists of 16 forts, the outer line of 18 forts, besides redoubts; the area thus inclosed measuring 430 square miles, with an encircling line of 77 miles. The climate of Paris is tem perate and agreeable. The city is divided into 20 arrondissements, at the head of which is a maire. Each arron dissement is divided into four quarters, each of which sends a member to the municipal council. The council discuss and vote the budget of the city. At the head is the prefect of the Seine and the prefect of police. The water supply of the city is derived from the Seine and the Marne, from the Ourcq canal, from artesian wells, and from springs.
Streets, Boulevards, Etc.—The houses of Paris are almost all built of white cal careous stone, and their general height is from five to six stories, arranged in separate tenements. Many of the mod ern street buildings have mansard roofs, and are highly enriched in the Renais sance manner. In the older parts of the city the streets are narrow and irregular, but in the newer districts the avenues are straight, wide, and well paved.
What are known as "the boulevards" include the interior, exterior, and mili tary. That which is specifically called "The Boulevard" extends, in an irregular arc on the N. side of the Seine, from the Place de la Bastille in the E. to the Place de la Madeleine in the W. It includes the Boulevards du Temple, St. Martin, St. Denis, des Italiens, Capuchins, Made Leine, etc., and its length of nearly 3 miles forms the most stirring part of the city. Here may be noted also the mag nificent triumphal arches of Porte St. Denis and Porte St. Martin, the former of which is 72 feet in height. On the S. side of the Seine the boulevards are neither so numerous nor so extensive, the best known being the Boulevard St. Germain, which extends from Pont Sully to the Pont de la Concorde. The ex terior boulevards are so named because they are outside the old city limits; and Place de la Concorde, one of the largest and most elegant squares in Europe, sur. rounded by fine buildings and adorned by an Egyptian obelisk, fountains, and statues; Place de l'Etoile, in which is situated the Arc de Triomphe, a splendid structure, 152 feet in height; the Place VenclOme, with column to Napoleon I.; Places des Victoires, with equestrian statues of Louis XIV.; Place de la Bas tille, with the Column of July; Place de la Republique, with colossal statue of the Republic; etc. Within the city are situ the military boulevards, still farther out, extend round the fortifications. After the boulevards mentioned the best streets are the Rue de Rivoli, Rue Castiglione, Rue de la Paix, Rue de la Chaussee d'Antin, the Rue des Pyramides, and 12 fine avenues radiating from the Place de l'Etoile. There are six passenger sta tions for the railways to the various parts of the country, and a railway around the city (the ceinture), by means of which interchange of traffic between the different lines is effected. There are also tramway lines to Versailles, St. Cloud, and other places in the suburbs, and an underground electric road.