It was the conscious decision of the Capetian kings to make Paris a center of commerce and learning, which first propelled the city into the European spotlight. Teachers and students from across Europe came to Paris. In the 12th century a new architectural style, the Gothic, was born in the city and spread across the continent. Saint-Denis, Notre-Dame, and Sainte-Chapelle witness that innovation.
It was the conscious decision of the Capetian kings to make Paris a center of commerce and learning, which first propelled the city into the European spotlight. Teachers and students from across Europe came to Paris. In the 12th century a new architectural style, the Gothic, was born in the city and spread across the continent. Saint-Denis, Notre-Dame, and Sainte-Chapelle witness that innovation.