Paris is the capital and largest city of the French Republic, as well as the political, economic, cultural, and commercial center of France. It is one of the five international metropolises in the world (the other four being New York, London, Tokyo, and Hong Kong) and has been rated as an Alpha+world-class city by GaWC.
Paris is located in the center of the Paris Basin in northern France, spanning both banks of the Seine River. The city center coordinates are 48 ° 52 ′ N and 2 ° 25 ′ E. In a broad sense, Paris can be divided into Paris Minor and Paris Saint Germain. Paris Minor refers to the city of Paris within the Grand Ring Road, with an area of 105.4 square kilometers and a population of 2.24 million; The Greater Paris region consists of seven provinces, including the Upper Seine, Val de Marne, Seine Saint Denis, Evelyn, Val de Waz, Seine Marne, and Essonne, surrounding the city center. Together, they form the Paris metropolitan area, which has been known as the “le de France” since ancient times. The metropolitan area has a population of approximately 11 million, accounting for one sixth of the national population.
Paris has a history of over 1400 years and is not only the political, economic, and cultural center of France, but also Western Europe. The romantic city of Paris is considered the starting point of modern Olympic sports.
On August 1, 2017, the International Olympic Committee announced that Paris would become the host city for the 2024 Olympic Games. On January 20, 2018, French Prime Minister Edward Philippe officially proposed to Pascal Lamy, the French inter ministerial representative responsible for bidding for the World Expo, that Paris would withdraw from bidding for the 2025 World Expo due to budget considerations.
Historical evolution
Paris has a history of over 2000 years, originating from the island of Cedar. It is said that at that time, there were only a few hundred residents living on the old city island, which was less than half an square kilometer.
In the fourth century AD, a tribe of the Romans forcibly occupied the Gallic villages on the island and established the capital of the Parisian people, giving Paris its name.
Starting from the 6th century AD, Paris became the capital of the Kingdom of France, and subsequent feudal dynasties in France took Paris as their capital.
By the 13th century, the population of Paris had reached 70000. King Philip August ordered the construction of city walls and defensive works, and the population of Sidai Island continued to increase, becoming the power center of the kingdom. The trade and handicraft workshops throughout the city gradually concentrated on the right bank of the Seine River, and the market began to form. Education, academia, and religious figures mostly live on the left bank of the Seine River.
The Hundred Years War between England and France, which began in 1337, caused severe damage to Paris. After the war, Francis I once again established his capital in Paris and carried out renovations.
In 1546, the Louvre began construction. Subsequent emperors, especially Louis XIV, spared no expense in building palaces, gardens, and squares.
In the late 16th and early 17th centuries, King Henry IV greatly expanded Paris. In the 18th and 19th centuries, Paris was still gradually expanding, with a large amount of arable land being occupied by cities.
On July 14, 1789, the people of Paris rose up in anger and destroyed the prison where the feudal dynasty imprisoned revolutionaries – the Bastille. This led to the outbreak of the bourgeois revolution, the declaration of human rights, and the abolition of the feudal system.
In 1792, the first bourgeois republic in French history was established.
In 1799, Napoleon launched the Fuyue 18 Coup (Fuyue Coup), declared himself emperor as Napoleon I in 1804, and promulgated the Napoleonic Code.
In 1815, Napoleon was defeated at Waterloo, the empire collapsed, and Louis XVIII established the Restoration Dynasty.
In 1830, the July Revolution overthrew the Restoration Dynasty, and Louis Philippe established the July Dynasty.
In 1848, the February Revolution established the Second French Republic.
In 1851, Napoleon’s nephew Louis Bonaparte launched a coup, declared himself emperor the following year, and established the Second Empire.
After the revolution in September 1870, the Third Republic was established.
In 1940, the German army occupied Paris and the Third Republic was overthrown. On August 25, 1944, with the cooperation of members of the Paris Resistance Movement and the Paris police, General Leclerc led the Second Armored Division to invade Paris and liberate the city from Nazi iron hooves. After the end of World War II, the Fourth Republic was established in 1946.
In 1958, General Charles de Gaulle was authorized to form a cabinet and formulate a new constitution, and the Fifth Republic was established.
In the later period of the First French Empire, Paris already had over 700000 residents and over a thousand streets; After the establishment of the Second Empire, Paris annexed some surrounding villages; When Napoleon III arrived, he began to open up some wide roads in Paris, built many gardens and parks, and made Paris prosperous.
After World War II, the French government spared no effort in the construction of Paris. Although in 1970, the development of Paris was temporarily suspended in order to evacuate the political and economic institutions that were overly concentrated in the capital, since the establishment of the Pompidou Center and new shopping underground streets in 1977, the construction of Paris has taken a new direction.
In order to achieve more balanced development in the eastern and western districts of Paris, the French government, with Mitterrand as its president, began the construction of ten major projects, including the Bastille Opera House and the National Library, in 1981. All of them were completed by the end of 1996.
Administrative division
Summarize
As of 2016, Paris was divided into a total of 20 districts (the 1st district centered around the Louvre, named clockwise).
Administrative divisions
Zone 1
Located on the north bank of the Seine Marne department, the area is home to the world-renowned Louvre Museum, the Royal Palace in Paris, the Dulles Gardens, the Le Arles Grand Complex, government offices, churches, and more. It is a tourist attraction.
Zone 2
The Ruedu Quatre September Avenue in the district runs from east to west, with the National Chamber of Commerce, National Library, Stock Exchange, multiple theaters, and churches. It is a bustling commercial and residential area, as well as a tourist attraction.
Zone 3
There are 4 museums, 4 churches, theaters, high schools, science and technology colleges, and the National Archives Bureau in the area, with numerous shops, making it a commercial and residential area.
Zone 4
Located on the north bank of the Seine Marne province, including two islands in the river, Saint Anthony Avenue and Hihori Avenue; The area is home to the famous Notre Dame Cathedral, the Paris City Hall, the Paris Police Department, the hospital, two museums, the Pompidou Center, and the picturesque scenery along the Seine River, attracting a large number of tourists, making it a bustling area of Paris. 3. The 4th district is also one of the larger areas of Paris Chinatown.
Zone 5
It is called the “Quartierdu Panth é on”. This area is called the Latin Quarter, where the Temple of the Sages, Botanical Garden, Church, and the famous University of Paris are located. The French Academy, as well as various types of schools such as polytechnics and vocational colleges; Museums, monuments, and bookstores are among the top cultural, artistic, and academic areas in Paris. They are unique open-air cafes with a plethora of coveted foods from various countries. Tourists stroll along the famous Saint Michel and Saint Germain avenues like crucian carp.
Zone 6
Also known as the Luxembourg district. Located on the south bank of the Seine River, there are numerous shops, cinemas, theaters, and a vast Luxembourg park in this area; The French Academy, School of Architecture, School of Dentistry, Mineral and many other schools, as well as numerous primary and secondary schools, are located within the Luxembourg Park of the French House of Lords. Adjacent to the 5th district, there is also a sense of cultural atmosphere.
Zone 7
Also known as the Palais Bourbon. In this area, there are world-renowned Eiffel Tower, Napoleon’s Tomb, Ossetia Museum of Art, Military Museum, and Military Academy; This area is located on the south bank of the Seine River, with wide streets and magnificent buildings. It is a place where famous scenic spots, embassies of various countries, and national institutions are concentrated. It has the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, and some high-end residential areas.
Zone 8
This area is the busiest and most visited in the city of Paris, with the famous Champs – É lys é es Boulevard spanning from the famous Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe, with a total length of about 2 kilometers. For 365 days, there is a constant flow of traffic and tourists; There are especially many shops on both sides of the Champs Elysees Avenue, including fashion shops, boutiques and perfume shops; The streets and alleys are filled with five-star hotels and high-end restaurants; Along the Black Road of San Domino is the heavily guarded Presidential Palace, the Elysee Palace. The Ministry of the Interior and the Navy are all located in this area, as well as palaces of all sizes and the Madeleine Church.
Zone 9
There are famous Paris Opera House, Spring Department Store, and Lafayette Department Store in this area. The level of liveliness in this area is slightly lower than that of Champs é es Boulevard. There are many schools, churches, museums, theaters, etc., but there are many residents.
Zone 10
This area is also dominated by residential areas, with two major railway stations, North Station and East Station. The public security in this area is poor, and tourists are often harmed by pickpockets; There are many small and medium-sized hotels in this area, which is a famous red light area with theaters, churches, and hospitals.
Zone 11
This area is generally inhabited by Parisian civilians, with Avenue de la Republique and Avenue de Voltaire passing through the area, and the majority of churches.
Zone 12
This area is located on the east side of Paris, north of the Seine River, and connects to the Lyon station in southern France. There is a French high-speed train (TGV) that directly connects to Lyon and Marseille in the south; There are Bastille Square, Bastille Opera House, and numerous small and medium-sized hotels and hospitals in this area.
Zone 13
Also known as the Gobelins district. This area is called Chinatown, which is the area in Paris where the most Chinese people gather for a living. Due to the vigorous development of the area in the past decade, tall buildings stand tall and the streets are wide; Centered around the Italian square, six avenues radiate in a star shape. Most of the Chinese people in this area are Southeast Asian Chinese. Paris Stowe and Chen’s shopping malls are good places for Chinese people to buy Eastern goods. There are many Chinese restaurants here, offering a variety of delicious food; Every Friday to Sunday dinner at Chaozhou City Restaurant, there is a band accompanied song and dance program at a moderate price.
Zone 14
Also known as the “observatory area” (l’observatoire et enfin). This area is located in the southern part of Paris, with the University City, Montsouche Park, Observatory, Hospital, Church, Vocational School, Skull Cave and Montparnasse Cemetery, Clove Garden Cafe and Dome Cafe offering a delicious and affordable seafood feast.
Zone 15
Also known as Vaugirard District. This area is located in the southwest of Paris, with a statue of the Statue of Liberty in the Seine River. The Statue of Liberty in New York, USA, was enlarged from this statue and sent to the United States, representing a symbol of friendship between France and the United States. There is a Montparnasse office building in the area, which is the tallest building in the city of Paris; There is a caf é on the top floor, where you can taste delicious coffee while enjoying the scenery of Paris city; At the border with District 14, there is the Montparnasse Railway Station, which has convenient transportation and is a residential and commercial area.
Zone 16
This area is located to the west of Paris, with embassies from over twenty countries gathered here. It is home to the famous Paris Ninth University – Dauphine, as well as numerous churches and museums. Overlooking the majestic Eiffel Tower from Shayou Palace, there is a vast Brent Forest to the west. This area is well-equipped and has a good living environment, making it a relatively high-end residential area.
Zone 17
Located in the northwest of Paris, the northern part of this area belongs to residential areas, while the southern part is a commercial area. There are many elderly people and wealthy businessmen living in this area, making it one of the quietest areas in Paris and also known as the wealthy district of Paris Minor.
Zone 18
This area is located north of Paris, with the famous Sacred Heart Cathedral, Montmartre Villa, Place de la Joule, the famous red light district, and the Moulin Rouge nightclub, making it a place for Parisian nightlife.
District 19
This district is located in the northeast of Paris, with a large number of Chinese communities, but it is smaller in scale than the 13th district, also known as Little Chinatown. It is the second largest Chinese community in Paris and a typical civilian area. There are the Viette Science Park, Xiumengqiu Park, and the Saint Martin Canal in the area.
Zone 20
This area is mostly residential, and the best places to go on holidays are Belleville Park and flea markets that only come on Saturdays and Sundays.
Geographical environment
Location domain
Paris is located in northern France, on both sides of the Seine River, 375 kilometers from the mouth of the English Channel. The city center coordinates are 48 ° 52 ′ N and 2 ° 25 ′ E. The Seine River winds through the city, forming two central islands (Î le de la Cit é and Saint Louis). The metropolitan area of Paris Saint Germain, also known as the Isle of France, includes the provinces of Haute Seine, Val de Marne, and Seine Saint Denis, which are located around the city walls of Paris and are connected by urban areas. Paris Minor is the city center of Paris. The area of Paris Minor is approximately 105.4 square kilometers.
Topographic features
Paris is located in the center of the Paris Basin, with the central plateau to the south, the Lorraine plateau to the east, the Ardennes highlands to the north, and the Amoricaine hills to the west. The terrain is low and flat, with an average elevation of about 178 meters.
Climate
The city itself is located in the center of the Paris Basin, with a mild oceanic climate, with no scorching heat in summer and no severe cold in winter; The average temperature in January is 3 ℃, the average temperature in July is 18 ℃, and the annual average temperature is 10 ℃. The distribution of rainfall throughout the year is balanced, with slightly more in summer and autumn, with an average annual rainfall of 619 millimeters.
Hydrology
The Seine River is the main river in Paris, with a total length of 776.6 kilometers and a drainage basin of 78700 square kilometers, including tributaries. Its drainage network accounts for the majority of river traffic within Paris.
Natural resources
Resource classification
water resource
The Seine River is an important water source for residents along the Paris coast. Large power plants, whether thermal or nuclear, extract cooling water from the river. About half of the water used in the surrounding areas of Paris, including industrial and residential use, comes from the Seine River. Between Rouen and Le Havre, three-quarters of the water used in this area also comes from the Seine River.
plant resources
Paris has abundant plant resources, with agricultural and urban development land accounting for only about 2% of its area, while the remaining 98% is still covered by green vegetation. The average annual timber harvesting in Paris is about 2000 square kilometers, and the forest area that is cut down each year accounts for about 0.33% of the forest area.
Animal resources
There are animals such as grizzly bears, elk, moose, reindeer, marmots, geese, and mice in Paris.
Mineral resources
Paris has metal minerals such as copper, nickel, gold, silver, platinum, cobalt, zinc, and diamonds, as well as non-metallic minerals such as salt, gypsum, lime, sand, and gravel.
Population and ethnicity
Population
The data from 2016 shows that the population of the metropolitan area of Paris Saint Germain is about 11 million, and the population of the city center of Paris is about 2.25 million.
nation
According to a 2016 study by the French National Institute for Statistics and Economics, 20% of residents living in Paris are immigrants, and 41.3% of residents under the age of 20 have at least one parent who is an immigrant. Among residents under the age of 18, 12.1% are Maghreb, 9.9% come from sub Saharan Africa, and 4.0% have Southern European ancestry. 35% of the residents of the island of France, approximately 4 million of whom are either non immigrants (17%) or have at least one parent who is an immigrant (18%).
Politics
Paris implements a bicameral system, consisting of the French National Assembly and the French Senate, with the power to formulate laws, supervise the government, pass budgets, and approve declarations of war.
The Paris City Council has a total of 57 members, each serving a term of 5 years and adopting a two round majority voting system, elected directly by voters. The Senate has a total of 34 seats, indirectly elected by an electoral college composed of members of the National Assembly and local councils, with each member serving a term of 6 years.
Economic
Paris is the largest industrial and commercial city in France. The northern suburbs of the city are mainly manufacturing areas. The most developed manufacturing projects include automobiles, electrical appliances, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, food, etc. Our products include precious metal utensils, leather products, porcelain, clothing, etc. The peripheral urban area specializes in producing furniture, shoes, precision tools, optical instruments, etc. The printing and publishing industry is concentrated in the Latin region and Remy Street. The metropolitan area of Paris Saint Germain accounts for three-quarters of France’s total film production.
In 2022, it ranked 9th in the International Science and Technology Innovation Center Index.
Primary industry
The agriculture in Paris is very developed, so its agricultural productivity is high, mainly producing wheat, barley, corn, and fruits and vegetables. Wine production ranks first in Europe. Next are dairy, meat based animal husbandry, and poultry and egg industry. The agricultural and food processing industry is one of the pillar industries in Paris that generate a surplus in foreign trade exports. The agricultural output value accounts for approximately 22% of the total output value of the city.
Secondary industry
France’s industry and manufacturing are also quite developed, with leading positions in nuclear power, aviation, aerospace, and railways. Steel, automobiles, and construction are the three pillars of its industry. The main industrial sectors in France include mining, metallurgy, automobile manufacturing, shipbuilding, machinery manufacturing, textiles, chemistry, electrical appliances, power, daily consumer goods, food processing, and construction. The industrial output value accounts for approximately 68% of the total output value of the city.
The tertiary industry
The service industry plays a crucial role in the economy and social life of Paris, with the total output value of the service industry in the Greater Paris metropolitan area accounting for about a quarter of the gross domestic product. In addition, the tourism industry is also an important pillar of the Paris economy. The output value of the tertiary industry accounts for approximately 10% of the economy in Paris.
Social undertakings
medical treatment
The social insurance system in Paris was founded in 1945 and has now developed relatively well. The total expenditure on various types of healthcare and social security is about 600 billion euros per year. The funds mainly come from social contributions paid by employees and employers, as well as ordinary social taxes on non wage income. The coverage includes retirement pensions, pension funds, medical insurance premiums, family allowances, unemployment benefits, disability allowances, etc. Due to issues such as an aging population, the government’s finances have gradually become overwhelmed, and multiple reforms have been carried out on the retirement system and medical insurance to alleviate the national financial burden.
Education
Paris has over 70 higher vocational colleges (accounting for more than half of the country), 13 comprehensive universities, and many colleges and universities are located in the Latin region.
There are a total of 9 universities in Paris, including the É cole de France, the University of Paris, the Paris Polytechnic, the Higher Normal School, the National School of Statistics and Economic Management, the National Higher School of Engineering and Technology, the National Bridge and Road School, the National Higher Advanced Technical School, and the National Center for Scientific Research.
Sports
Famous sports teams in Paris include professional football team Paris Saint Germain Football Club, professional basketball team Paris Devillois Basketball, and professional rugby team StadeFran ç ais. The Stade de France is located in Saint Denis, a suburb of Paris, France, and can accommodate 80000 spectators. The Stade de France was built for the 1998 FIFA World Cup and served as the venue for the final of the 1998 World Cup. The Stade de France is also a large sports venue with multiple uses, and can also be used for rugby and athletics competitions. The French national rugby team, French national football team, and Six Nations Championship all compete on this sports field. In addition to the professional football team Paris Saint Germain Football Club, Paris also has amateur football teams such as Paris Football Club, Red Star Football Club, RCF Paris and Stade Fran ç ais Paris.
Paris Saint Germain was once a strong team in the mid-1990s, but fell into decline in the new century. Ronaldo played for Barcelona before joining the team. In 2007, the team’s performance reached a low point and even faced the risk of relegation for the first time in history. In 2013, Paris Saint Germain won their first championship in 19 years, and then achieved 7 championships in 8 years in Ligue 1, becoming the second team in Ligue 1 history to win the championship multiple times. In 2020, this French powerhouse made their debut in the Champions League final.
As of 2017, Paris has two teams in the top 14 of the professional rugby league, namely the Frances and Racing M é tro92.
Paris is the birthplace of the Olympic Declaration and the drafting place of the Olympic Charter, therefore the “Romantic Capital” of Paris is considered the starting point of modern Olympic movement. Paris successfully hosted the Olympic Games twice in 1900 and 1924, as well as the FIFA World Cup twice in 1938 and 1998. The 2007 Rugby World Cup was also held in Paris. The final of the 2006 UEFA Champions League was also held at the Stade France in Paris, and the champion was the Spanish football powerhouse Barcelona Football Club.
The Tour de France is the largest and most influential international free riding competition in the field of road free riding, with its final stop set in Paris. Since 1975, the finish line of the Tour de France has been at the Arc de Triomphe. Tennis is also quite popular in Paris and France, and the French Open is one of the four Grand Slam tournaments and the only clay Grand Slam tournament. The French Open tennis tournament is held around June every year at the Roland Garros Stadium near the Boulogne Forest.
Paris will host the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Ecology
The Paris City Government attaches great importance to ecological environment construction. Despite the tight availability of urban land, the government still does everything possible to increase green spaces, gardens, and forests in urban communities to improve the environmental quality of urban communities and improve people’s living environment. Paris is the capital of art and also the capital of flowers. Whether in the room, on the balcony, in the yard, in the store, in front of the shop window, or on the roadside, there are blooming flowers everywhere, with charming fragrances everywhere. As for the colorful flower shops and parks with a variety of flowers, they often make people stop and admire, lingering and reluctant to leave.
In 1981, there were 285 public green spaces in the city of Paris, with a total area of approximately 355 hectares, excluding the 1850 hectares in the forests of Boulogne and Versailles, as well as decorative green landscapes, cemeteries, and roadside greenery.
From 1981 to 1999, the two levels of government in the urban area made extremely difficult efforts to increase the public green space area by 140 hectares, bringing the total area to 496 hectares. Adding the forest area in Boulogne and Wansena, the green area was 22.3%, and the per capita green space area was 13.94 square meters. Among the added green spaces are city level parks, district level parks, community parks, and square green spaces, as well as parks and green spaces along the Seine River and canals. The green spaces in Paris are still growing at a rate of approximately 100 hectares per year.
Paris was the first city in European history to effectively protect its precious natural property – trees. The Tree Report records the decisions and actions made by Paris to protect trees. For example, Paris encourages the protection of public and private green spaces through local regulations; Sign agreements with land developers to protect trees on construction sites; For ease of management, Paris has established archives and identification cards for every tree in the city. At the same time, urban landscape technology experts have proposed a comprehensive biological protection and control plan after research, aiming to improve the ability of plants to resist pollution and pests, enhance biodiversity, and achieve a balance of plant hygiene. Nowadays, cities rarely use insecticides and instead rely on the use of pesticides for biological control; The soil permeability is also improved by increasing the number of earthworms.
There are 397 parks in the community of Paris, with a total area of 3.58 million square meters. On average, each community has nearly 20 parks, and the per capita community park area is 1.67 square meters. The 12th district has the most parks, with 24; The second district has the fewest parks, with only three. The smallest park is Pihet Beslay Park, also located in Zone 2, with only 92 square meters; The La Villette Park in District 19 is the largest, with an area of 35000 square meters. Not only that, more than 100000 trees are planted on both sides of the 350 kilometer long streets and boulevards in the city.
Transportation
Paris is one of the busiest transportation hubs in the world, with two international airports: Aeroport international Charles de Gaulle located northeast of Paris and Aeroport de Paris Orly located south. The Paris Metro is the main force of transportation in Paris, with a total of 14 main lines and 2 branch lines, and subway stations throughout the city. Among them, the newly built Line 14 is very modern and is a fully automated and unmanned route. There are over fifty bus routes. The transportation connecting the city center and other areas of the island of France is managed by the Regional Express (RER), which has 5 routes (A-E) running through the city of Paris.
Highway
France has numerous public transportation systems. RATP (Paris Public Transport Union) is responsible for inter provincial public transportation, subway, 2 urban transportation lines, inter provincial railway lines, 1 bus line, 1 tram line, and 1 automatic light rail line VAL in the Paris region, while also serving Orly Airport. Inter provincial transportation is divided into five regions: circles 1 to 2 serve the center of Paris, and circles 3 to 5 serve the suburbs. In order to take public transportation, each passenger must have a stamped ticket that can only be used for one-way travel, which can be used for subways, RERs, and buses.
Special services
RATP provides a passenger pass for 1 to 5 days.
MOBILIS provides a pass for taking any mode of transportation (RATP, SNCF, and Optile) anywhere within a day.
5 euros per day for Zone 1 to Zone 2, and 17.95 euros per day for Zone 1 to Zone 8
Paris Visit Pass
A pass to visit Paris and the Le de France region. You can choose to take the Paris Metro unlimited times within 1, 2, 3, and 5 days, as well as trains from the Paris Metro network and buses from the Greater Paris area. Versailles, Disneyland Paris, Orly Airport, and Charles de Gaulle Airport are also included.
Price: 8.35 euros per day for Zone 1 to 3, 23.60 euros per day for Zone 1 to 8
Metro
Special offer: The Paris Metro is free for children under 4 years old and half price for those aged 4-10. The Paris Metro is the most dense and convenient urban rail transit system in the world. It’s hard for people who haven’t been to Paris to imagine how convenient the subway is. It can be said that at any point in Paris, if you draw a circle with a radius of 500 meters, there will definitely be a subway station within this circle. There are 16 subway lines and 380 stations serving the urban and suburban areas of Paris, and they are connected to the RER and SNCF transportation lines. The first train departs at 5:30, the last train departs at 24:30, and one or two subway stations close after 8 pm. A subway route diagram can be seen at all subway station service desks. The latest ticket price since July 2010 is 1.70 euros per ticket, with a discount of 12 euros for ten tickets. Subway tickets that are only used for one-way travel are sold in the form of one or ten tickets. The subway and RER tickets in the entire Paris area, including the downtown and suburban areas, do not vary depending on the length of the trip. That is to say, your ticket can be transferred at any time after checking in (as long as it does not leave the station).
The subway transfer sign is the yellow CORRESPONDANCE, and the exit sign of the subway is SORTIE.
Regional and inter provincial railway lines (RER)
Paris Region RER de France: Five railway lines (A, B, C, D, and the new line E-EOLE) operate from the city center of Paris to the region RER de France between 5:30am and 12:30pm. Train tickets are different from subway and bus tickets except for those within the city center of Paris. The ticket prices for RER in suburban areas (outside the suburbs of Paris) as well as SNCF and Transilien vary depending on the length of the trip.
Tramway
All are located in the suburban area and operate three lines: T1 line from Garede Noise le Sec RER station to Asnieres Gennevilliers Les Courtillies; The T2 line runs from Porte de Versailles Parcdes Expositions to La Defense. The T3 line runs from Pontdu Carigliano to Porte d’Ivry.
Bus
There are a total of 304 bus routes covering the entire Paris and suburban areas, running from 7am to 8:30pm. In Paris and its suburbs, a ticket can only be used on one bus or Tram, except for the following routes: exclusive transfer buses are available on the Orlybus (5.50 euros), Roussey bus (10 euros), and Noctam bus (2.40 euros) routes at the Orly Airport. On a bus line divided into three curved routes, one ticket can be used for the entire curved route.
railway
Paris is the largest passenger railway transfer station in France, with seven train stations located in the city center:
Gare d’Austerlitz station in Paris: a local train to cities such as Orleans, Boulevard, Bourges, Limoges, Ch â teau, as well as to cities such as Tours and Toulouse.
Gare de Bercy: a local train to cities such as Clermont Ferrand, Neville, and Auxerre, as well as to places such as Dijon, Lyon, Macon, and Salon sur Somme.
Gare de L’est: go to Strasbourg, Mays, Reims, Nancy, Charleville Mezier, Troyes, Colmar, Belfort and other cities, as well as Frankfurt, Munich, Stuttgart and other places in Germany.
Gare de Lyon: Travel to cities such as Lyon, Marseille, Dijon, Besancon, Milus, Saint Etienne, Nice, Montpellier, Pepinion, Grenoble, and Anesi, as well as to cities such as Ventimilia in Italy and Barcelona in Spain.
Gare Montparnasse station in Paris: travel to cities such as Bordeaux, Nantes, Toulouse, Rennes, Brest, Lorient, Le Mans, Angers, Chartres, Poitiers, La Rochelle, Tabu, and Biarritz.
Gare du Nord: travel to cities such as Lille, Amiens, Laon, and Dunkirk; As well as Dortmund and Aachen in Germany, London (Eurostar) in the UK, Brussels and Liege in Belgium, Amsterdam in the Netherlands, and other places.
Gare Saint Lazare station in Paris: travel to Rouen, Caen, Le Havre, Cherbourg and other places.
In addition, some TGV trains passing through Paris stop at train stations in the suburbs of Paris, mainly including Massey TGV station, Marne Lavalle station, and Charles de Gaulle airport station.
aviation
There are two international airports in the suburbs of Paris: Charles de Gaulle, commonly known as Roissy, located 25 kilometers north of Paris, and Orly, located 14 kilometers south of Paris. Most international routes take off and land from Charles de Gaulle Airport, while domestic routes, close range routes, and low-cost airline flights typically use Orly Airport.
Historical and Cultural
The third Saturday and Sunday of September each year is Paris Heritage Day. At this time, many historical and cultural heritage sites in the deep palace are open to the public, with the aim of letting more people understand their love and protect human history and cultural heritage.
Local specialties
Escargot: an edible snail. This dish is usually seasoned with garlic and butter. Due to the fact that snails come with shells, there is a specialized fork used to remove the meat when serving.
Sweet breaks: This dish usually starts by simmering the beef in the original soup over Chinese heat, then cutting the meat into pieces, wrapping it with flour, and then frying it slightly. When slightly frying, lemon and pickled prickly fruit buds are usually added.
Scenic spots
Louvre
The world-renowned art palace was first built in the early 12th century for defensive purposes, and gradually became a magnificent palace through a series of expansions and repairs. Starting from the 16th century, Francis I began to collect various artworks on a large scale, and subsequent emperors continued this tradition, enriching the collection of the Louvre. Today, the museum has a collection of 400000 artworks, including sculpture, painting, art and crafts, as well as seven categories including ancient East, ancient Egypt, and ancient Greece and Rome. In 1981, the French government carried out a large-scale renovation of this exquisite building, making the Louvre a professional museum. It is worth mentioning that there are four transparent pyramid buildings (one large and three small) at the entrance of the main entrance of the Louvre, designed by the famous Chinese American architect I.M. Pei.
The Eiffel Tower (LatourEiffel)
Built in 1889 for the International Exposition at that time, it faced a lot of criticism after being built, claiming that a pile of scrap iron had damaged the beauty of Paris. Nowadays, this iron tower, which once held the world’s tallest building record for over 40 years, has become the most important symbol of Paris. The romantic Parisians gave the iron tower a beautiful name – “Shepherdess in the Clouds”. The Eiffel Tower was built to solemnly commemorate the 100th anniversary of the French bourgeois revolution in 1789 during the sensational International Exposition. Named after the famous French architectural engineer Gustave Eiffel, the designer, and a half body bronze statue of Eiffel was sculpted under the tower.
In 1889, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution, the French government decided to hold an unprecedented world exposition in Paris to showcase achievements in industrial technology and culture, and to build a monument symbolizing the French Revolution and Paris. The organizing committee originally hoped to build a classical commemorative group with statues, monuments, gardens, and temples, but among the more than 700 application proposals, they chose the design of bridge engineer G. Eiffel (1832-1923): a giant tower symbolizing machine civilization that can be seen from any corner of Paris.
The entire tower is 320 meters high and has three floors. The first and second floors have restaurants, cafes, and more. The third floor serves as an observation deck, providing a panoramic view of the suburbs of Paris 70 kilometers away on sunny days.
Notre Dame de Paris
The Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris was built in 1345. Not only famous for Hugo’s novel of the same name, but also because it is the oldest and most magnificent Catholic church in Paris. Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris refers to it as the “Stone Symphony”. This Gothic stone building has a history of two hundred years and is the oldest, largest, and most outstanding Catholic church in Paris. It also has epoch-making significance in the history of European architecture.
The church has a square shape and a solemn demeanor. Facing west, it is divided into three levels, with a height of 69 meters. The bottom level is lined with three peach shaped gateways. The left side is the Notre Dame Gate, the right side is the Santa Ana Gate, and the center is the final judgment. The door is covered with carvings, describing the story of the Bible. On the door scroll is a long niche, which houses statues of ancient Judea and 28 kings of Israel.
Notre Dame Cathedral is located on the island of Sainte in the city center, and the tower is the best place to look around Paris, offering views of the Seine River and the Pompidou National Cultural and Art Center.
Arc de Triomphe
The Arc de Triomphe is located in the center of Place de Gaulle, reaching a height of 50 meters and is one of the symbols of Paris. Centered around the Arc de Triomphe, 12 main streets extend outward. It was built in 1836 to commemorate the glory and victory of the French army, and its scale surpassed the Arc de Triomphe of Constantine in Rome.
On each side of the arch, there is a huge relief, which is based on the history of the French War from 1792 to 1815. The relief of the Marseillaise facing the lower right side of the Champs – É lys é es Avenue is one of the most famous, depicting the scene of the volunteer army’s expedition in 1792. The reliefs on the four walls above the arch are scenes celebrating Napoleon’s triumphal return, and the names of each battle are engraved on the shield shaped ornaments at the top. The single color and exquisite relief give people a sense of solemnity and simplicity. In 1920, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was established under the doorway, and an indestructible flame was ignited every evening.
In addition, Paris also has a small Arc de Triomphe, also known as the Carrousel Arc de Triomphe. It is located opposite the Louvre Museum and was built to celebrate Napoleon Bonaparte’s series of victories in 1805. There are three circular arches between the red and white marble columns, and above the arches are light reliefs commemorating the achievements of Emperor Napoleon. At the top of the door were four gilded galloping horses brought from the Church of San Marco in Italy, which were returned to Italy in 1915.
The symbol of the new city of Paris, the La Fontaine Building, is also known as the “New Arc de Triomphe”. It is located on the same axis as the Arc de Triomphe, facing each other from afar and shining brightly.
Versailles
Originally a hunting ground for the royal family, it was the palace from the beginning of Louis XIV (1682) until the French Revolution, which was also a must visit place for all visitors to Paris. Behind the palace was a huge imperial garden. The Palace of Versailles is located 20 kilometers west of Paris and was built by Louis XIV. It is renowned for its luxurious and imaginative architectural design. The total length of the building complex is 580 meters, including the palace castle, garden, and Trianon.
Paris Opera House
The Paris Opera House is the world’s largest theater for performing formal operas. The opera house covers an area of nearly 11000 square meters and can accommodate over 2000 audiences. Every year, many classic plays are performed. The Opera House was designed by Ganier and built between 1862 and 1875. It almost combines all the architectural styles before Napoleon III. The fa ç ade of the Opera House is covered with a large number of decorations, all of which are typical works from the period of Napoleon III. The opera house also includes a ballet school and a library.
Miracle Gold Coin Notre Dame Cathedral
The Miracle Coin Notre Dame Cathedral is located in Paris, France. It is a church built in 1815 to commemorate the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It is a typical Roman Catholic church that began commemorating the Virgin Mary in 1830. The mural on the main altar of the church is very beautiful. In churches, miracle medals are important sacred objects for prayer and pilgrimage, thus attracting believers from all over the world who hope to receive protection from the Virgin Mary. The top of the Miracle Coin Notre Dame Cathedral is a row of pointed arches connected together, making the entire Miracle Coin Notre Dame Cathedral appear very slender. On the front of the Miracle Gold Coin Notre Dame Cathedral, there is also a clock tower that appears very solemn and beautiful. To the east of the Miracle Gold Coin Notre Dame Cathedral is an altar, with a semi-circular outer wall behind it. To the west of the Miracle Coin Notre Dame Cathedral is a square tower, which is very eye-catching.
City Honors
Honorary title
October 2018
The 17th Global City Competitiveness Ranking was released, with Paris ranking fourth.
November 2018
Paris has been rated as an Alpha+world-class city by GaWC.
September 2019
Ranked fourth on the 2019 World Tourism City Development Rankings.
2019
Paris ranks 6th among the top 20 globally in terms of sustainable competitiveness.
December 26, 2019
Ranked fourth on the 2019 Global Cities 500 list.
April 2020
Selected from the 2020 Global Summer Resort Cities List.
September 2021
The Paris metropolitan area ranks 9th in the Nature Index – Research Cities 2021 released by the Zhongguancun Forum.
