After hearing this term time and time again, I've finally had enough. Yes, Asheville is an amazing town full of art, music and great food. But why must people keep referring to it as the "Paris of the South?" The people using this term have obviously never been to Paris, or more likely, never left Asheville.
Why do we always have to compare places to other, more impressive places? Why not just leave Asheville as Asheville? If individuals must insist that Asheville is the "Paris of the South," then Brevard must be the "Chamonix of the East." Stupid.
— Adam Duchac
Asheville
21 thoughts on “Paris of the South? C’est stupide”
I thought we were the San Francisco of the East, or the Gyeongju of North America, or the Ered Lithui of reality.
How about the “Skopje west of Charlotte?”
Adam Duchac
Is West Asheville the Asheville of the West, or would that be San Francisco?
Or…”Paris is the Asheville of Western Europe.”
“Asheville is the Paris of Eastern Europe”?
Because it starts with the Biltmore House…The celebrated architect Richard Morris Hunt modeled the house on three châteaux built in 16th-century France. And goes from there. I grew up in West Asheville and I do remember the feel of European culture there.
http://www.allisonreeceoriginals.blogspot.com/
Fretting over a nickname that’s been in use since the late 1800’s sounds pretty stupid if you ask me.
Stupid, or fun?
http://images.chron.com/photos/2008/06/21/11778642/600xPopupGallery.jpg
http://www.chron.com/news/photogallery/Strange_and_wonderful_photos_of_2008.html#11778798
Paris of the south has also been used for Savannah Ga as well and some other cities.
Its a joke title
[b]Yes. The nickname has been around a long time. I like it actually. [/b]
That’s not what you said earlier.
Could be called worse things.
Yeah, we could be called the arm pit.
I think calling Asheville SF of the west is just as stupid!
I think calling Asheville SF of the east is just as stupid!
No Froggy nicknames for Asheville.
And eat Freedom Fries.
No Froggy nicknames for Asheville.
Suddenly Paris of the South sounds pretty darn good.
I had fun from 1996 to 2008 to work for the Paris of the South title , i found that nickname from the writing of an historian Mr Ken Richards. With the help of Sister City and a letter to the Citizen-Time and just after one mention in a John Boyle article , the seed was planted ..Just at that time in Asheville the first terrasse was created by Old Europe (when he was ready to give up ..a deserted downtown )…At that time there was one link (ken Richards) for the motto on internet check how many today .
Then the French Consul was invited , a French community created …and the rest is History …
Nothing stupid here mr duchac ..just the desire to create a lively town respectuous of architecture beauty , quality of life and creativity !
Francois’ radio show, Paris of the South, is one of the fine lost jewels from the heyday at the former WPVM.
sigh… Je suis triste
So it’s Francois’ fault? Well no matter….I like it, so do a lot of other people, so there.
Biltmore, the Versailles of the South!
The Vance Monument, the Arc de Triomphe of the South!
Ford F-150, the Citroën of the South!
etc.
Asheville is the Spartanburg of North Carolina.