Paris, the capital of France, is much more than a European metropolis — it is a true global symbol of culture, history, creativity, and elegance.

Located at the heart of the Paris Basin, along the banks of the Seine River, the city covers a relatively modest area of 105 km², yet it is impressively dense, with over 2 million residents within the city limits and nearly 12 million across the entire metropolitan area.

Nicknamed the “City of Light”, Paris earned this title both from its pioneering role in public street lighting in the 19th century and its longstanding status as an intellectual and artistic beacon. The cradle of the Age of Enlightenment, revolutions, literary romanticism, and avant-garde movements in art and architecture, Paris has continuously blended historic grandeur with modern urban dynamism.

Paris is divided into 20 municipal arrondissements, spiraling outward from the historic center — the Île de la Cité — to the northeast and southwest edges of the city. Each arrondissement has its own distinct character: the Marais (3rd-4th) with its grand townhouses and vibrant LGBTQ+ culture, the Latin Quarter (5th) steeped in academic tradition, Montmartre (18th) with its bohemian soul, or Belleville (20th), popular and cosmopolitan.

At its core, iconic landmarks shape Paris’s timeless skyline: the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Notre-Dame de Paris, the Arc de Triomphe, the Panthéon, the Opéra Garnier, Sacré-Cœur, and many others form a richly layered and instantly recognizable urban landscape. Bridges like Pont Alexandre III and Pont Neuf, spanning the Seine, further contribute to this postcard-perfect atmosphere.

But Paris is far more than a movie backdrop: it is a living crucible of innovation, social diversity, civic expression, and creativity. It hosts the central institutions of the French Republic (the Élysée Palace, Matignon, the National Assembly, the Senate, and ministries), as well as major cultural institutions like the Louvre Museum, Musée d’Orsay, Centre Pompidou, Philharmonie de Paris, and the National Library of France.

It is also a hub of knowledge, home to leading universities such as the Sorbonne, Sciences Po, Paris Cité, Dauphine, and top-tier institutions like ENS, Polytechnique, and HEC, attracting students from all over the world.

Economically, Paris is a European powerhouse: with La Défense, the continent’s largest business district; thousands of corporate headquarters; a flourishing luxury and fashion sector; and a booming tech and start-up ecosystem, the capital is a nexus of power, finance, and creativity.

Paris also faces major challenges: housing shortages, pollution, mobility, and social inequality. Ambitious projects such as the Grand Paris Express, the 2024 Olympic Games, and pedestrianization of the riverbanks aim to transform the city into a more accessible, greener, and inclusive space.

The city strives for ecological excellence, expanding bike lanes, urban gardens, repurposing derelict spaces, and greening rooftops. Under the leadership of current mayor Anne Hidalgo, Paris is undergoing a profound ecological and social transition — one that sparks both hope and debate.

Above all, Paris is a mood, a way of life, a blend of contrasts — from lively cafés and local markets to medieval alleyways and grand Haussmannian boulevards. It is a city to explore, experience, and feel — on foot, by bike, or via metro — and one that leaves an emotional imprint on all who pass through it, whether wide-eyed tourists, starry-eyed lovers, or passionate locals.

A city of history, a city of the future, Paris continues to inspire, reinvent itself, and shine on the world stage, at the crossroads of tradition and the transformations of our era.