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A city rich in treasures from it's historic
past, Paris boasts many modern attractions
as well. Paris is known for its famous buildings and
works of art, its chic fashion scene and its modern
literary, artistic, and intellectual ideals, and is
a must for anyone wishing to experience the best of
both contemporary and age old European culture. Paris
is family friendly and is a city that welcomes people
of all ages and backgrounds with open arms.
The capital of the
nation and of the historic Île de France region,
Paris is located in northern central France, across
the English channel from Britain; 165mi southwest of
Brussels; and 315mi west of Stuttgart. The city center,
known as Intra-Muros, (within the walls), is bisected
by the River Seine. Paris is divided into twenty zones
or arrondissements that fan out in a circular pattern
with the Louvre as the center point. The last two digits
of the postal zip code of each zone indicate its location.
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 Musée
du Louvre, the Centre Georges Pompidou and a lively
district of museums, shops, markets and restaurants.
Immediately south of the Pompidou Centre on the Île
de la Cité is Notre Dame Cathedral. South of
the river, in the area known as the Rive Gauche (Left
Bank), can be found the city's trademark, the Eiffel
Tower. To the east, are the Saint Germain de Prés
and Montparnasse districts, in which can be found Paris's
famous academic, artistic and intellectual enclave.
The history of Paris has been both turbulent and exhilarating.
From a shaky start, the kings of France gradually extended
their control over their feudal rivals, centralizing
administrative, legal, financial and political power
in Paris as they did so. The autocratic Louis XIV made
Paris into a glorious symbol of the preeminence of the
State.
Napoleon I added to the Louvre and built
the Arc de Triomphe. Napoleon III had Baron Haussmann
tear down the extensive slums in the early 19th century
and completely redesign the city center. Recent presidents
have updated the skyline to include skyscrapers at La
Défense, and have initiated projects such as
the Tour Montparnasse, Les Halles shopping precinct,
the space-age Parc de la Villette complex, the glass
pyramid entrance to the Louvre, the Bastille opera house,
the new National Library, and the conversion of the
once closed railway station to the superb Musée
d'Orsay.
Few cities can compare with the eclectic
mix of cafés, bars and restaurants that line
every street and boulevard of Paris. The city's compactness
makes it possible to explore on foot and experience
the individual feel of the different quartier Paris
is a real cinema capital, and the best Parisian music
encompasses jazz, avant-garde, salsa and, currently,
Europe's most vibrant African music scene.
Parts of Paris don't fit easily in any
"category". In fact, Parisians say that their
city is just a collection of one hundred villages. Montmartre,
rising up to the north of the center, has managed to
retain an almost rural atmosphere with its colorful
mixture of locals and artists despite the daily influx
of tourists. Undisturbed by tourism, the dilapidated
working-class quarters of eastern Paris offer a rich
ethnic slice of Parisian street life and in direct contrast,
technological wonder is paraded at the ground-breaking
science museum constructed in the recently renovated
Parc de La Villette.
Like most Parisians, you may find
there's enough in Paris to keep you from ever thinking
about the world beyond. When you find you need a rest
from the bustle of the city, however, there is the whole
of the Ile de France to explore.
There's truly is no place like Paris!
Book a Paris hotel
today.
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