|
|
Paris is the capital of France and the country's largest city. It is situated on the River Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the France region (also known as the "Paris Region"). The city of Paris within its administrative limits (largely unchanged since 1860) has an estimated population of 2,167,994 (January 2006). |
The Paris urban area extends well beyond the administrative city limits and has an estimated population of 9.93 million (in 2005). The Paris aire urbaine metropolitan area has a population of nearly 12 million, and is one of the most populated metropolitan areas in Europe.
An important settlement for more than two millennia, Paris is today one of the world's leading business and cultural centres, and its influence in politics, education, entertainment, media, fashion, science and the arts all contribute to its status as one of the world's major global cities. According to 2005 estimates by the PricewaterhouseCoopers accounting firm, the Paris urban area is Europe's biggest city economy, and is fifth in the world's list of cities by GDP.
|
|
| The Paris Region, with US$628.9 billion, produced more than a quarter of the gross domestic product (GDP) of France in 2006. The Paris Region hosts 37 of the Fortune Global 500 companies in several business districts, notably La Défense, the largest purpose-built business district in Europe. Paris also hosts many international organizations such as UNESCO, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the informal Paris Club. |
Paris is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, with over 30 million foreign visitors per year. There are numerous iconic landmarks among its many attractions, along with world-famous institutions and popular parks.
|
| Climate |
Paris has an oceanic climate and is affected by the North Atlantic Current, so the city rarely sees extremely high or low temperatures (such as heat wave of 2003 and the cold wave of 2006).
Paris has warm summers with average high temperatures of 25 °C (77 °F) and lows of 15 °C (59 °F). Winters are chilly, but rarely below freezing point with temperatures around 3 °C (37 °F) - 8 °C (46 °F). Spring and fall have mild days and cool evenings. Rainfall could occur at any time of the year, and although not a very rainy city, Paris is known for its sudden showers. The yearly annual precipation is 650 mm (26 in) with light rainfall fairly distributed throughout the year. Snowfall is a rare occurrence, but the city could see light snow or flurries without accumulation in some winters. The highest record temperature ever in Paris was 40.4 °C (105 °F) on 28 July 1948, and the lowest was a -23.9 °C (-11 °F) on 10 December 1879.
|
| Tourist Places In Paris |
| Eiffel Tower |
This is one of the world's most recognizable monuments (and the best-known monument in all of Europe), and it is breathtaking to behold. Be sure to take the lift for a view of the city. This attraction alone drew 6.2 million visitors in 2002, according to Paris Office of Tourism statistics.
|
|
|
|
| |
| Louvre Museum |
Arguably the world's most famous art museum, the Louvre's most popular piece is Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa." It was established in 1793, and is one of the oldest museums in Europe. Its collections spans from the birth of great civilizations up to the 19th century. A whopping 5.7 million tourists visited the museum in 2002.
|
|
|
|
| |
| Centre Pompidou |
Centre Pompidou in Paris is the perfect attraction for those interested in modern art and architecture. What most people don't realize is Centre Pompidou is not simply a modern art museum, but is devoted to all forms of modern and contemporary creations, including literature, theater, film and music.
Centre Pompidou, in fact, is the third most visited Paris attraction with about 5.5 million visitors a year.
This popular Paris museum was the idea of President Georges Pompidou, who envisioned a cultural center focused entirely on all modern creations. The building was designed by architects Renzo Piano, and is probably one of the more distinct architectural designs in the world. Centre Pompidou first opened in 1977. |
|
|
|
|
| |
| Musee d'Orsay |
This museum may not be the massive size of Louvre, but its Impressionist collection is among the best in the world. The museum is housed in a former rail station, and has the atmosphere and personality to match. The Musee d'Orsay attracts 2.1 million visitors annually. |
|
|
|
|
| |
| Arc de Triomphe |
Climb to the top for one of the best views of Paris. No, it doesn't go as high as the Eiffel Tower. But since the city is relatively flat, the vantage point at this height is actually better. The arch brings in 1.4 million visitors each year.
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
