We all know that Paris is a very beautiful city. A city of the most original one can say it. It is a cheerful, jovial, and above all bright city. It is called “The City of Light“. Besides, we often compare it to Hong Kong or New York for this aspect. But where does his nickname come from? Why is it called that? You should know that it was foreigners as well as French people passing through Paris who, amazed by the vision of the very first public lighting in the world, spread the idea of an always-lit city. But the existence of these lights did not respond to an aesthetic choice. Quite the contrary.
There are two hypotheses to this question: In the 17th century, Gilbert Nicolas (1625-1709) had been appointed, by Colbert and Louis XIV, the very first lieutenant general of the Paris police in March 1667. To break the intensity of criminality in the streets of Paris, he had ordered the installation of public lighting, by placing lanterns and torches in the streets. Even in the darkest alleys to deter prowlers, criminals and imposters.
The second hypothesis regarding this history, would lean more towards the 19th century: The development of the first public gas lights, in the years 1820-1830, will establish this reputation of “City of Lights”. Europeans will be fascinated by this Paris which shines with a thousand lights, with sparkling shopping streets. And the “City of Light” was.
