The story of the chimneys on the rooftops of Paris

You will have a surprise given that at the Capital of Light of the world – Paris, this image appears dense on the rooftops.

The beautiful squares, the ancient bridges that spans river water flowing gentle or mosques, magnificent palaces, what do you think is characteristic of European land?

The answer we given will make you amazed. That is chimney located on the roof of the house or building.

Especially in the Capital of Light, this image appears dense in the city. You can rely on it to count how many personal fireplaces are installed in the building.

The chimney is present in Europe since the 13th century. Earlier, people’s homes are heated by fire inside the oven as terracotta or brick placed in the middle of the house.

They will create a small hole in the roof or walls to avoid smoky but this way is not very effective. The first chimneys are used in the big houses and to Tudor time, they become fashionable items.

The introduction of chimney is not completely eliminates smoke out of the house by design is not perfect and rudimentary of materials burned for heating.

In the 18th century, most scientists believe that smoke is created when heat. Smoke will move from warm place to cold place. So when the house is warm enough, smoke will exit outdoor by pipes.

Coal combustion at that time was very expensive, so only the well-off families are eligible to own chimney. Also because of that, people began to flaunt his wealth by installing lots of chimneys above the roofs.

The poorer families, can not afford to buy coal, also tried to own a property to prove with their neighbors.

The period of Victoria is “golden era” of chimneys. In this stage, chimneys has made by clay or metal material became popular in society. People used these to build as a way to personalize their homes.

Today, humans have invented electric heating, but in the sky of Paris remains the unused chimneys.

Another story of the chimneys, in Europe, Santa Claus will creep along on the chimney to give gifts to children on Christmas Eve. But why he did not knock on the door directly, but chose the chimney?

Heaters are considered a place of warmth, the source of all blessings, and it is believed that most people close to Santa and saints will bring gifts to good child through this gate.

His road to through the chimney become a tradition in the Western countries. The “A Visit from St. Nicholas” poem by Clement Clarke wrote in 1882 described it.

See more photos of the chimney pots of Paris rooftops