One of the pre-eminent cities in the world, Paris is a complex mix of culture, politics, education and much more. Here are somethings to know about the city if you are thinking of visiting.

Paris is the capital city of the nation of France. The city also serves as a capital for the Paris Region. The Paris Region is the center of economic activity in France and includes the capital city and several of it's surrounding suburbs. The Paris Region produces roughly a quarter of the country's revenue.

One of the more interesting things about Paris lies in the city's reputation as a global mega power. The capital is one of Europe's leading fixtures in the fashion, gastronomy, arts, political arenas. Paris boasts of a cultural standing that prompts more than thirty million international tourists to visit the city each year, making Paris the world's most visited city.

Many of those thirty million annual tourist make the trek to the world-renowned Louvre Museum of Art. The Louvre is one of the oldest museums in the world-and features a size to back that up. Expressive artistic works, like the Mona Lisa, have a home at Louvre, which also offers exposure to artworks of the Impressionism and Medieval Ages. The museum hosts art by Pablo Picasso, Musee Rodin. Other popular sources of entertainment in Paris are:

1. The Opera Garnier was established in the nineteenth century.

2. The Opera Bastille is the official "it" place in Paris for catching modern and classic ballets and operas.

3, Theatre is big business in Paris. The Bobino, the Theatre Mogador, and the Theatre de la Gaite-Montparnasse are some of the most frequented spots in the city for catching live action.

Paris proper hosts a population topping nine million. The Paris metropolitan area is one of the most heavily populated areas in Europe, featuring a population of approximately eleven and a half million people. The Paris metropolitan area is comprised of the Paris urban area as well as land surrounding Paris' commuter belt. The Paris urban area functions as housing for business headquarters of nearly every major company in France.

Neo-classical architecture, characteristic of eighteenth century construction, gained momentum in the post-French Revolution days of Paris. Similar architecture is the main attraction at the infamous Eiffel Tower, the most visited site in Paris tourism.

The Eiffel Tower is securely situated on the banks of France's Seine River. Named in honor of it's designer, Gustave Eiffel, the Eiffel Tower is worth an entire article all its own. The Eiffel Tower is the tallest building in Paris, measuring in at 1063 feet high. The birth of the Eiffel Tower ended the Washington Monument's reign as the tallest building on Earth. The Eiffel Tower held the title of the "World's Tallest Building" until 1930, when the Chrysler Building in New York City claimed the distinction. Approximately two hundred million visitors have rubbed elbows at the Eiffel Tower since it's construction was completed in 1889.

Other Paris monuments and attractions you should know about include:

1. Paris mimics the brights lights of New York City with a smaller version of the American Statue of Liberty. While Lady Liberty who resides in the middle of the New York Harbor was a gift from France to the United States, Paris has two smaller variations of the American cultural icon. The Parisian "liberties" are located over along the bank of the Seine and in the Luxembourg Garden, the largest park in the city.

2. Paris' Montmartre is one of the region's most popular neighborhoods. Montmartre is famous for being the resting place of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart-a Roman Catholic gem.

3. Wallace Fountains are characteristically Paris. Named after Richard Wallace, an Englishman who provided the financial backing for their construction. Wallace Fountains are drinking fountains, most often found on the sidewalks of Paris' busiest streets, contained within the protection of dark green cast-iron. The fountains are featured in various sizes. Paris has sixty-five large Wallace Fountains and nine smaller variations.

When it comes time to take a trip to Europe, a visit to Paris should be high on your list of destinations.

Richard Monk
www.FactsMonk.com