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 Île-de-France region (also known as the "Paris Region"; French: Région parisienne). The city of Paris, within its limits largely unchanged since 1860.
Paris is today one of the world's leading business and cultural centers, 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. Paris is sometimes called the City of Light in tribute to its intellectual Preeminence as well as to its beautiful appearance.
Paris is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, with 45 million tourists every year in the Paris Region, 60% of whom are foreign visitors. There are numerous iconic landmarks among its many attractions, along with world-famous institutions and popular parks.
Paris is located in the north-bending arc of the river Seine and includes two islands, the (Île Saint-Louis) and the larger ( Île de la Cité), which form the oldest part of the city.
Paris, excluding the outlying parks of Bois de Boulogne and Bois de Vincennes, covers an oval measuring 86.928 km in area.
Paris has an oceanic climate and is affected by the North Atlantic Current, so the city rarely sees extremely high or low temperatures.
Paris has warm summers with average high temperatures of 25 °C and lows of 15 °C. Winters are chilly, but rarely below freezing point, with temperatures around 3 °C - 8 °C. Spring and Autumn 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 precipitation is 642 mm 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.
Much of contemporary Paris is the result of a vast mid-19th century urban remodeling. For centuries, the city had been a labyrinth of narrow streets and half-timber houses, but, beginning in 1852, the Baron Haussmann's vast urbanisation program leveled entire quarters to make way for wide avenues lined with neo-classical stone buildings of bourgeoiser standing; most of this 'new' Paris is the Paris we see today.
These Second Empire plans are in many cases still applied today, as the city of Paris is still imposing the then-defined "alignment" law (building facades placed according to a pre-defined street width) on many new constructions. A building's height was also defined according to the width of the street it lines, and Paris' building code has seen few changes since the mid-19th century to allow for higher constructions.
Many of Paris's important institutions are located outside the city limits. The financial (La Défense) business district, the main food wholesale market, major renowned schools, world-famous research laboratories (in Saclay or Évry), the largest sport stadium (the Stade de France), and some ministries (notably the Ministry of Transportation) are located in the city's suburbs.
Paris' largest opera houses are the 19th-century (historical Paris Opéra) and modern Opéra Bastille; the former tends towards the more classic ballets and operas, and the latter provides a mixed repertoire of classic and modern. In middle of 19th century, there were active two other competing opera houses: Opéra-Comique (which still exists to this day) and Théâtre Lyrique.
Among Paris' first mass attractions drawing international interest were the above-mentioned Expositions Universally that were the origin of Paris' many monuments, namely the Eiffel Tower from 1889. These, in addition to the capital's Second Empire embellishments, did much to make the city itself the attraction it is today.
Paris' museums and monuments are among its highest-esteemed attractions; tourism has motivated both the city and national governments to create new ones. The city's most prized museum, the Louvre, welcomes over 8 million visitors a year, being by far the world's most-visited art museum.
The Louvre is one of the largest and most famous museums, housing many works of art, including the Mona Lisa (La Joconde) and the Venus de Milo statue. Works by Pablo Picasso and August Rodin are found in (Art Gallery) Musée Picasso and Musée Rodin, respectively, while the artistic community of Montparnasse is chronicled at the Musée du Montparnasse.
Many of Paris' once-popular local establishments have come to cater to the tastes and expectations of tourists, rather than local patrons. Le Lido, The Moulin Rouge cabaret-dancehall, for example, are a staged dinner theatre spectacle, a dance display that was once but one aspect of the cabaret's former atmosphere. All of the establishment's former social or cultural elements, such as its ballrooms and gardens, are gone today. Much of Paris' hotel, restaurant and night entertainment trades have become heavily dependent on tourism.
The role of Paris as an international trade centre has caused its transportation system to develop considerably throughout history, and it continues its growth at a fast pace today. The public transit networks of the Paris region are coordinated by the Syndicat des Transports d'Île-de-France (STIF), formerly Syndicat des Transports Parisiens (STP). The members of this syndicate are the Ile-de-France region and the eight departments of this region. The syndicate coordinates public transport and contracts it out to the RATP (operating 654 bus lines, the Métro, three tramway lines, and sections of the RER), the SNCF (operating suburban rails, a tramway line and the other sections of the RER) and the Optile consortium of private operators managing 1,070 minor bus lines.
Hossein EbrahimNia
Paris is today one of the world's leading business and cultural centers, 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. Paris is sometimes called the City of Light in tribute to its intellectual Preeminence as well as to its beautiful appearance.
Paris is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, with 45 million tourists every year in the Paris Region, 60% of whom are foreign visitors. There are numerous iconic landmarks among its many attractions, along with world-famous institutions and popular parks.
Paris is located in the north-bending arc of the river Seine and includes two islands, the (Île Saint-Louis) and the larger ( Île de la Cité), which form the oldest part of the city.
Paris, excluding the outlying parks of Bois de Boulogne and Bois de Vincennes, covers an oval measuring 86.928 km in area.
Paris has an oceanic climate and is affected by the North Atlantic Current, so the city rarely sees extremely high or low temperatures.
Paris has warm summers with average high temperatures of 25 °C and lows of 15 °C. Winters are chilly, but rarely below freezing point, with temperatures around 3 °C - 8 °C. Spring and Autumn 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 precipitation is 642 mm 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.
Much of contemporary Paris is the result of a vast mid-19th century urban remodeling. For centuries, the city had been a labyrinth of narrow streets and half-timber houses, but, beginning in 1852, the Baron Haussmann's vast urbanisation program leveled entire quarters to make way for wide avenues lined with neo-classical stone buildings of bourgeoiser standing; most of this 'new' Paris is the Paris we see today.
These Second Empire plans are in many cases still applied today, as the city of Paris is still imposing the then-defined "alignment" law (building facades placed according to a pre-defined street width) on many new constructions. A building's height was also defined according to the width of the street it lines, and Paris' building code has seen few changes since the mid-19th century to allow for higher constructions.
Many of Paris's important institutions are located outside the city limits. The financial (La Défense) business district, the main food wholesale market, major renowned schools, world-famous research laboratories (in Saclay or Évry), the largest sport stadium (the Stade de France), and some ministries (notably the Ministry of Transportation) are located in the city's suburbs.
Paris' largest opera houses are the 19th-century (historical Paris Opéra) and modern Opéra Bastille; the former tends towards the more classic ballets and operas, and the latter provides a mixed repertoire of classic and modern. In middle of 19th century, there were active two other competing opera houses: Opéra-Comique (which still exists to this day) and Théâtre Lyrique.
Among Paris' first mass attractions drawing international interest were the above-mentioned Expositions Universally that were the origin of Paris' many monuments, namely the Eiffel Tower from 1889. These, in addition to the capital's Second Empire embellishments, did much to make the city itself the attraction it is today.
Paris' museums and monuments are among its highest-esteemed attractions; tourism has motivated both the city and national governments to create new ones. The city's most prized museum, the Louvre, welcomes over 8 million visitors a year, being by far the world's most-visited art museum.
The Louvre is one of the largest and most famous museums, housing many works of art, including the Mona Lisa (La Joconde) and the Venus de Milo statue. Works by Pablo Picasso and August Rodin are found in (Art Gallery) Musée Picasso and Musée Rodin, respectively, while the artistic community of Montparnasse is chronicled at the Musée du Montparnasse.
Many of Paris' once-popular local establishments have come to cater to the tastes and expectations of tourists, rather than local patrons. Le Lido, The Moulin Rouge cabaret-dancehall, for example, are a staged dinner theatre spectacle, a dance display that was once but one aspect of the cabaret's former atmosphere. All of the establishment's former social or cultural elements, such as its ballrooms and gardens, are gone today. Much of Paris' hotel, restaurant and night entertainment trades have become heavily dependent on tourism.
The role of Paris as an international trade centre has caused its transportation system to develop considerably throughout history, and it continues its growth at a fast pace today. The public transit networks of the Paris region are coordinated by the Syndicat des Transports d'Île-de-France (STIF), formerly Syndicat des Transports Parisiens (STP). The members of this syndicate are the Ile-de-France region and the eight departments of this region. The syndicate coordinates public transport and contracts it out to the RATP (operating 654 bus lines, the Métro, three tramway lines, and sections of the RER), the SNCF (operating suburban rails, a tramway line and the other sections of the RER) and the Optile consortium of private operators managing 1,070 minor bus lines.
Hossein EbrahimNia
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