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The ''Faubourg Saint Germain'' ((:fobuʁ sɛ̃ ʒɛʁmɛ̃)) is a historic district of Paris. The ''faubourg'' has long been known as the favorite home of the French high nobility and hosts many aristocratic Hôtels particuliers. It is currently part of the 7th arrondissement. ==History== In its early history, ''Faubourg Saint-Germain'' was an agricultural suburb of Paris, lying west of the historical Saint-Germain-des-Prés urban district. In 1670, Louis XIV initiated a project of grandiose home and hospital for aged and unwell soldiers: the Invalides. The king chose a site at the western end of the Faubourg and commissioned architect Libéral Bruant. The enlarged project was completed in 1676, the river front measured 196 metres and the complex had fifteen courtyards, the largest being the ''cour d'honneur'' ("court of honour") for military parades. Jules Hardouin Mansart assisted the aged Bruant, and the chapel was finished in 1679 to Bruant's designs after the elder architect's death. The construction of the Invalides opened a new district to urbanizing, offering large empty spaces between the new monument and the old city limit: the Faubourg's history had started. During the 17th century, French high nobility started to move from the central Marais, the then-aristocratic district of Paris where nobles used to build their urban mansions〔Hotels particuliers in French〕 (see Hotel de Soubise) to the clearer, less populated and less polluted ''Faubourg Saint-Germain'' that soon became the new residence of French highest nobility. The district became so fashionable within the French aristocracy that the phrase ''le Faubourg'' has been used to describe French nobility ever since.〔Balzac explains the very specific ''Faubourg's aristocratic way of life'' in his novel ''La Duchesse de Langeais''〕 The oldest and most prestigious families of the French nobility built outstanding residences in the area such as the Hôtel Matignon, the Hôtel de Salm or the Hôtel Biron. After the Revolution many of these mansions, offering magnificent inner spaces, many receptions rooms and exquisite decoration, were confiscated and turned into national institutions. The French expression ''"les ors de la Republique"'' (literally ''"the golds of the Republic"''), referring to the luxurious environment of the national palaces (outstanding official residences and priceless works of art) comes from that time. During the Restoration of the Bourbon dynasty, the ''Faubourg'' recovered its past glory as the most exclusive high nobility district of Paris. Moreover, home to the Ultra Party, it was the political center of the country. The ''Ultra'' pushed towards counter-revolutionary laws, reinforcing Catholic Church's power (''Anti-Sacrilege Act'') and voting the infamous ''Loi du Milliard aux émigrés''〔Balzac wrote the short story ''Madame Firmiani'' about the law and its consequences〕 (literally the ''Emigrates' Billion Act'') which was made to compensate French nobility for its Revolutionary era's loss in terms of fortune and land. But after the Fall of Charles X during the July Revolution, the district lost most of its political influence. During the July Monarchy, from 1830 to 1848, when the junior Orleanist branch held the throne, the ''Faubourg'' was politically marginalized, many noble family withdrawing from active participation in political life to their castles, urban mansions in the ''Faubourg'' and passive but brilliant social life. Therefore, the ''Faubourg'' remained the center of French upper class' social life. Nowadays, the ''Faubourg''-as the rest of the 7th arrondissement- is still is one of the most exclusive districts of Paris (see ''Paris Ouest''). 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Faubourg Saint-Germain」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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