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Paris, France INTRODUCTION Long considered the most romantic city in the world, Paris is the capital and largest city in France, with a population of just over 2.1 million people. Situated on the River Seine, the city was regarded as the center of the Western world for most of the 18th and 19th centuries. Today, it offers cultural, historical, and architectural delights at every turn. It is home of the Eiffel Tower, the Champs Elysees, Montmartre, The Arc de Triomphe, The Bastille, the Avenue Montaigne, and many other famed sites steeped in history. Although Paris attracts tourists throughout the year, the principal inhabitants of the city are Parisian residents. This dynamic often causes friction between visitors and the residents, giving Parisians a reputation for rudeness. Travelers who take the time to learn the basics of French politesse will quickly find that the stereotypical "rude Parisian" is largely a myth. Paris is a dynamic, complicated city, famous for its densely-packed blend of the historical and the contemporary, the grand and the intimate. Along any of its streets, modern architecture can be seen competing for attention with palaces and cathedrals dating back to the Middle Ages. Visitors will witness the government's attempts to modernize some of the arrondissements (neighborhoods), while heroic efforts are being made to restore and preserve others. Travelers can shop alongside locals who are running errands at centuries-old outdoor market and specialty boutiques. Dine with them at tantalizing restaurants and thriving cafés, and soak in the exuberant nightlife and world-class cultural institutions such as the Louvre. One of the best things about Paris is the sheer variety of attractions and their proximity to one another. Paris is deliberate about honoring its glittering past as much as it embraces the future, and for this reason millions of visitors every year find themselves enchanted by the multi-faceted "City of Light." Whether one is strolling along one of the many iconic, zooming six-lane boulevards, exploring its narrow, winding cobblestone lanes, or shuffling through the underground catacombs, the real heart of Paris is to be found on its streets. Traveling Paris on foot allows visitors to experience the full complexity of the city. HISTORY  A Parisian Street The muddy stretch of land on the banks of the Seine was first settled around 250 B.C. by the Gaulish Parisii tribe, who would later lend the city its name. The Romans conquered the territory they called Lutetia around 52 B.C., beginning the area's prosperity. Germanic invasions during the fall of the Roman Empire led to a period of decline for the city. During the Middle Ages, the Franks controlled the area, and Paris became the capital of a sovereign state. Paris lost its capital status when control of the kingdom passed to the Burgundians, but the city regained its position by 1437. King Louis XIV moved the French court to nearby Versailles in 1682, but Paris was the center of the French Revolution when the monarchy was overthrown in 1792. The Industrial Revolution ignited the greatest development in Parisian history during the 1800s, but a cholera epidemic, the Franco-Prussian War, and the Commune of Paris caused great upheaval and population decimation during much of the 19th century. The city quickly recovered with the 1889 and 1900 Universal Expositions, which led to the establishment of the Métro system, the Eiffel Tower, and many other important cultural institutions. These, together with the World's Fairs hosted by Paris during this period, cemented the city as a tourist magnet. Paris was the center for the war effort against Germany in World War I, but in World War II the city was overrun by the Nazis. Since the 1970s, many of Paris's suburbs especially the economically disadvantaged banlieues, have seen deindustrialization, leading to many of its current economic gaps and social problems. Despite these difficulties, Paris continues to be the destination for travelers from all over the world. KNOW BEFORE YOU GO  |The Luxembourg Gardens
ATTRACTIONS The Arc De Triomphe RESTAURANTS Au Trappiste L’Astrance Le Chateaubriand L’Ourcine – A short walk from the tourist traps of rue Mouffetard into the less fashionable 13th brings you to this casual little stone-walled bistro. The menu centers on fresh seasonal produce with game and fish straight from Breton ports. LODGING Hotel Keppler – Just a few blocks from Champs-Elysees is this funky and sophisticated boutique hotel. The Keppler offers 34 rooms and 5 suites to choose from, all decorated in a unique, colorful, and classy way. A coveted view of the Eiffel Tower is all yours when you book a suite for your stay in Paris. Located in the city center, travelers can spend their day shopping and sightseeing and occupy their night in the lounge by the fireplace, or the bar with a "winter garden." Mama Shelter – Discover a new side to Paris by staying at Mama Shelter, a cool modern hotel in the Saint Blaise neighborhood of the city. Rooms are classy and minimalist in decor and equipped with many amenities like DVD players, internet, and a minibar. For a break from the historical and traditional Paris, stay at Mama's and step into the 21st century. Hotel Caron de Beaumarchais – Furnished in the style of a private townhouse in the time of playwright Beaumarchais (who wrote the Marriage of Figaro) and Mozart, this ‘bonne adresse’ on the edge of Paris’s chic Marais district is cozy and atmospheric, but also a good value. Hôtel Mayet – The Hôtel Mayet is a colorful, chilled-out, and family-friendly small townhouse hotel on the Left Bank. Modern art murals decorate the entrance hall while contemporary white, grey, and red color schemes dominate the simple upstairs and attic rooms. Daniel – Located in a quiet street behind the Champ Elysées, le Daniel likes to think of itself as a miniature palace: a blend of chinoiserie, satin sofas, and cozy lounge areas that recreate its colonial past. Like all Parisian hotels in picturesque buildings, some rooms are small, but the décor more than compensates. Hôtel Beaumarchais – This is a cheap and cheerful option for young people on a budget or those travelling in a group and sharing a room. With incredibly bright carpets and décor with oddities like plastic bathroom furniture, it provides a basic but funky Paris base on the edge of the hip Oberkampf district. Personal Stories 
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