Location Facts

Paris is the capital of France and the country's largest city. Located on the river Seine, Paris has been an important settlement for more than 2,000 years. Now the 21st century, it remains one of the world's leading business and cultural centers, and is one of the world's major global cities.

• The Romans conquered the Paris basin in 52 B.C.
• The Paris metropolitan area has a population of nearly 12 million people.
• The Eiffel Tower was built in 1889, and remained the world's tallest building until 1930.
• Three of the most famous Parisian landmarks are the Cathedral Notre Dame de Paris, the Eiffel Tower, and the Napoleonic Arc de Triomphe.
• Outside of Paris are the D-Day beaches in Normandy and the picturesque rocky tidal island of Mont Saint-Michel.