Paris

The capital of France, Paris sits on the river Seine in the heart of the Ile de France region. The city was founded by a Celtic tribe called the Parisii in 250 BC and a short while later the Romans arrived and renamed the town Lutetia. Given its present name in the 4th century in honour of the original settlers, Paris quickly grew in the middle ages thanks to its strategic position on the river and the surrounding marshes were drained to allow for further development.

The 18th century saw the beginnings of political and social change and the 1789 French Revolution abolished the monarchy and paved the way for Napoleonic France. The city itself began to take on its present form in the mid 19th century when Napoleon III commissioned Baron Haussmann to reconstruct vast areas of the town. Haussmann completely transformed 60% of Paris and built wide avenues and grand, uniform buildings, turning it into an elegant and beautiful city.

Today Paris is a major European hub and an important political and economic centre. With 42 million visitors a year it is a huge tourist destination and is home to some of the most recognized landmarks in the world. Despite its rich history , Paris is a modern city and manages to integrate contemporary and avant-garde art and architecture with its more classical cultural heritage. Also known as the ‘City of Light’ due to its illustrious reputation for forward thinking and intellect, Paris has always been a source of new ideas and it remains an influential force on all aspects of the arts, food and fashion.