Paris Travel Guide

Paris is the capital city of France and is located in the �le-de-France region, on the Seine river. It has an estimated population of 2,153,600 inhabitants. The Paris region is the centre of France economic activity. The main offices of important organizations such as: UNESCO, NATO, the OECD and the ICC are also located in Paris. It is not only an economic centre, but also a city of learning and culture. The fashion of Paris is well known around the world, with many famous fashion designers hosting their events in this city.

From the first to fifth century, Paris was called Lutetia but after this period it adopted its current name. Paris is sometimes called 'The City of Light' because of its cultural lifestyle and intellectual prestige, and also for its beautiful appearance. Paris with its seductive atmosphere is one of the most wonderful cities in the world, a metropolis that satisfies every tourist's expectations.

Paris territory was firstly inhabited by a sub-tribe of celtic Senones called the Parisii, who settled in the area near the Seine River from around 250 B.C. In 1190 a wall for enclosing Paris. having the Louvre as its western fortress. During the late 17th and the 18th century, Paris acquired further glory as the scene of many of France's greatest cultural achievements: the plays of Moli�re, Racine, and Corneille; the music of Lully, Rameau, and Gluck; the paintings of Watteau, Fragonard, and Boucher; and the salons where many of the philisophers of the Enlightenment gathered.

At the beginning of 1968, Paris was the scene of serious disorders, such as a student strike. In 1971 Paris 's famous central market was dismantled, where now the new Paris metro hub is located. In 1977, the Georges Pompidou National Center for Art and Culture was constructed which also includes the National Museum of Modern Art. In 1992 Eurodisney was built in the Parisian suburbs, and the Louvre was renovated as well.

Modern Paris is the result of many remodeling and regulating advances. In the middle of 19th century, new urbanisation plans were put in place, new wide roads, neo classical stone buildings, and no more narrow streets. Part of this Paris is what we see today. Higher buildings have also been constructed, but now but there are laws that are trying to preserve the historic city, making the construction of modern buildings within the city limits difficult.

Paris, France