Paris

source: Lilo Kapp / pixelio.de

Paris, the capital of France, is situated along the Seine river. It is a world city with roughly 2 million inhabitants and 12 million people in the greater metropolitan area. The derivation of Paris is the Seine with her numerous islands. The river divides the city in two parts: the business sector in the north and the predominantly residential area in the south.

Paris has more than 160 museums, reams of galleries, theatres and restaurants. The first choice for art lovers in Paris should be the Louvre. Also, the Musée d`Orsay, which is developed from an old railroad station, has a fascinating exhibition on French impressionists. Other cultural sights include the Centre Georges Pompidou and the exhibitions in the Musée Picasso. For an art aficionado, one week in Paris is definitely too short to see all of its many treasures.

The most famous landmark of the town is the Eiffel Tower. The tower was constructed under the guidance of Alexandre Gustave Eiffel in 1889. About 16.000 visitors climb the Eiffel Tower every day. If you're in Paris you should also visit the Champs-Èlysées, the Triumphal Arch and the Sorbonne University.

Other must sees in Paris are, the cathedral Notre Dame de Paris, the church St. Germain-l’Auxerrois and the Basilique du Sacrè–Coeur on the Montmartre. Pay also a visit to the famous cabaret Moulin Rouge that offers marvelous shows for over 100 years now. The city is home to several nice parks, giving it a ”green face“. The water front section of the Seine, and the castles Versailles and Fontainbleau, are all UNESCO world cultural heritages worth checking out.