About Paris
Paris is the capitaland largest city of France. It is situated on the riverSeine, in northern France, at the heart of theÎle-de-Franceregion. The city of Paris, within its administrative limits (the 20arrondissements), has a population of about 2,230,000. Its metropolitan areaisone of the largest population centres in Europe, with more than 12 million inhabitants.An important settlement for more than two millennia, Paris had become, by the 12th century, one of Europe's foremost centres of learning and the arts and the largest city in the Western world until the turn of the 18th century. Paris is today one of the world's leading business and cultural centres and its influences in politics, education, entertainment, media, science, and the arts all contribute to its status as one of the world's majorglobal cities.Paris and the Paris region, with €572.4 billion in 2010, produce more than a quarter of thegross domestic productof France and hasone of the largest city GDPs in the world. Considered as green and highly liveable, the city and its region are the world's leading tourism destination. They house four UNESCO World Heritage Sitesandmany international organizations.
