Paris – the capital of France is a historical, cosmopolitan metropolis dubbed as the most beautiful and romantic city in the world. Visited by over 45 million people each year, Paris is the most popular of all tourist destinations and home to some of the most iconic landmarks on the planet.

History

The earliest archaeological signs of habitation in the Paris area were around 4200 BC before the Parisii cub tribe of the Celtic Serones inhabited the area from around 250 BC. The Romans then conquered the Paris basin in 52 BC and had a permanent settlement by the end of the century. The collapse of the Roman Empire in the 5th century sent the city into decline before the Frankish king Colvis I established his capital in 508 AD. Paris was the centre stage for the French Revolution between 1789-1799, the July Revolution of 1830 and the February Revolution of 1848 which led to the creation of the Second Republic. The Industrial Revolution, French Second Empire and Belle Époque brought the greatest development to the city in its history before the mass renovation under Napoleon III and his prefect Haussmann who levelled the narrow winding medieval streets of the city to create the wide avenues and neo-classical façades of the Paris that we know and love today. The Eiffel Tower was built for the centennial of the French Revolution in 1889 and remained the world’s tallest building until 1930. In the 20th century the inter-war period saw Paris famed for its cultural and artistic communities with famous artists flocking to the city from all around the world. Following the city’s liberation in 1944 the post-war period saw Paris experience another massive development with the foundation of key areas like La Défense. Paris today is one of the world’s leading cultural centres, attracting more tourists each year than any other city, and one of the major global cities with the biggest city economy in Europe and a major influence in politics, education, entertainment, media, fashion, science and the arts.

Getting In & Getting Around

Charles de Gaulle International Airport is the main airport in Paris with most major international and domestic airlines flying through the airport. The airport is located 23km (14 miles) north-east of the city and is connected by RER commuter trains. Orly International Airport south-west of the city centre is the second largest airport in the city chartering mainly domestic and European flights and Beauvais Airport is north of the city and charters mainly budget airlines. The Gare du Nord is the French terminus for the Eurostar which connects London with Paris in just 2 hours and 20 minutes. Paris has one of the most efficient transport networks in the world with the Métro, train and bus services, all of which are fairly cheap and easy to use. Driving is not recommended in Paris as traffic can be dense and parking extremely difficult to find. Walking is a great way to see the city and if you are feeling energetic you can pass the entire city in only a few hours taking in all of the major sights.

Culture, Sights & Attractions

As you would expect from the world’s favourite tourist destination, Paris is filled with sights and attractions. A great way to see the city is to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower and take in an unrivalled view of the city. Alternatively, for those not too fond of heights a boat tour along the River Seine gives a great insight into this fabulous city. Almost all the famous sights and attractions, such as the Avenue des Champs Elysées, Arc de Triomphe and the Cathédrale de Notre Dame, are contained within the Boulevard Périphérique (ring road) that encircles the city centre. Paris is home to an astonishing amount of museums and galleries including the Louvre, the Centre Pompidou and the Musée du Quai Branly. As one of the world’s major centres for fashion, Paris is a great destination for shopping. The Champs Elysées is one of the major shopping streets in the city, the Avenue Montaigne, home to major French labels such as Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Dior, is next to the Champs Elysées and the Faubourg Saint-Honoré is one of the city’s high-fashion districts home to labels such as Hermès and Christian Lacroix. 

Eating Out

Paris, the birthplace of the restaurant trade, is one of Europe’s top culinary centres home to 100s of traditional bistros and over 900 restaurants, many with Michelin stars. As a very cosmopolitan city, there aren’t many food types you can’t find here but sampling French cuisine is a must. You’ll also find a great range of good quality produce at the number of open air markets in the city, particularly the one on Boul Richard Lenoir, and supermarchés (supermarkets) near your accommodation.

Outside The City

With such good transport links it’s very easy to escape the city and enjoy some of what the rest of France has to offer. Just a twenty minute train ride will see you at Versailles where you can explore the magnificent and iconic palace. Fontainebleau is approximately one hour’s drive away from Paris. The pretty, historical town known for its scenic Forest of Fontainebleau, is a popular get-away for Parisians and the Château de Fontainebleau is a popular tourist destination. Disneyland Paris, now the most popular tourist destination in Paris, is located to the east of the city and is easily reached by car, train or bus.

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