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About Paris
Introduction to Paris

Everyone knows something about Paris, the City of Light. From the famous landmarks to the centuries of history, Paris gleams like a beacon to Europe. The Eiffel Tower, Louvre, the Champs Elysees … Arc de Triomphe, Sacre Coeur. The list could go on and on. ‘If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life it stays with you …’ - so said Ernest Hemingway, a lucky man indeed!

Named after the Parisii tribe who settled here long before the time of Christ, Paris insinuates itself into one’s imagination, exemplified by the huge church of Notre Dame, which rises in gothic splendour over the Ile de la Cite on the very spot where this great metropolis was born! With the River Seine pulsing through its very heart, this city cannot fail to capture a visitor‘s heart and mind. Awash with culture, abrim with style, Paris revitalises a tired soul.

Throughout the city, one will find intimate cafes, fantastic accommodation and sumptuous cuisine. Take the Metro from one end of the city to the other. Explore the endless corridors of the Louvre and other museums. Make a short trip outside the metropolis to Versailles, where a veritable tribe of curators, gardeners and lecturers await to make your visit special. Anticipating a cultural overload, you may like to book seats for an evening at the Moulin Rouge, where inhibition is always on vacation!

As befits the capital of France, Paris is erudite, cosmopolitan and accessible. Truly Hemingway was correct - once seen, Paris can never be forgotten!

Latitude:  48.88°
Longitude:  2.43°
Area:  105 sq km
Country:  France
Population:  2.15 million
Currency:  Euro
Electricity Voltage:  230V
Electricity Frequency:  50Hz
Electrical Plug Types:
Getting your Bearings in Paris
Both the capital of the nation and of the historic Île de France region, Paris is located in northern central France. Central Paris - known as Intra-Muros, or within the walls - is a nice, oval-ish shape, divided neatly in two by the Seine, with 20 arrondissements (districts) spiralling clockwise from the centre in a logical fashion. The area north of the river, the Rive Droite (Right Bank), includes the tree-lined Avenue des Champs-Élysées, running west to the Arc de Triomphe. East of the avenue is the massive Musée du Louvre, the Centre Georges Pompidou and a lively district of museums, shops, markets and restaurants. Immediately south of the Centre Georges Pompidou on the Île de la Cité is the world-famous Notre Dame. The area south of the river, the Rive Gauche (Left Bank), is home to the city's most prominent landmark, the Eiffel Tower. To the east, in the Saint Germain de Prés and Montparnasse districts, Paris' famous academic, artistic and intellectual milieus waft in and out of focus through a haze of Gitanes smoke.
When to Visit Paris
As the old song says, Paris is at its best in springtime, even if it is sometimes a little wet. In winter Paris has all sorts of cultural events going on, while in summer the weather is warm and lazy - sometimes sizzling. In August, when Parisians flee for the beaches to the west and south, many restaurateurs lock up and leave town too, but this is changing rapidly and you'll find considerably more places open in summer than even a decade ago. Things can get a bit hectic around Bastille Day and towards the end of the year so reservations at this time are a good idea.
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