An intriguing, concise history of Paris, beautifully illustrated by works from the archives of the museums of Paris, this delightful book takes the reader on a journey from the earliest settlement in the area to the grand architecture of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, bringing them right up to the present day and the ever-changing landscape of Europe's biggest metropolitan city. Acknowledging along the way the people and events that have helped to shape its history - from the Sun King to one of the world's most significant and bloodiest revolutions, to the artists, writers and entertainers who have sought and found inspiration from the city's streets.