Paris, France

The capital and most important city of France.  The Paris metropolitan area dominates the economic, cultural, and political life of the nation.

With an estimated population approaching 10 million, the Paris metropolitan area contains nearly 20 percent of France's inhabitants. The population of Paris proper was 2,148,991 in 1990.

The centralizing philosophy of successive governments has historically favored the city as the site for all decision making, thus exercising a powerful attraction on virtually all of the nation's activities. Only since the 1960s have attempts been made to reduce the inordinate influence of Paris in French affairs and to strengthen the role of various regions and secondary cities.

Paris is the leading industrial center of France, with about one-quarter of the nation's manufacturing concentrated in the metropolitan area. Principal manufactures are machinery, automobiles and other vehicles, chemicals, and electrical equipment.

The cultural and artistic preeminence of Paris has attracted a large publishing industry and a wide range of luxury manufactures, such as high-fashion clothing (Dior)and jewelry, for which the city is particularly noted. galerieslafayette.com

Most key service activities of the nation, especially banking and finance, are concentrated in Paris. The city has made major efforts in recent years to attract the headquarters of multinational corporations and is now one of Europe's most important centers of international business and commerce.

contract lawyers in Paris

Real estate : french-immobilier.com - locaflat.com - france-realty.com - rival-immo.com

American graduate school : agsird.edu

Museum: louvre.fr

City guide (including airport guide)  Pariscope pariserve.tm.fr

Photoalbum: see Paris 

Streets of Paris: Av. des Champs Elysees,   Av. de l'Opera, Avenue d'Iéna, Avenue Albert de Mun

1928: Bolero (Maurice Ravel)

1966: Where do you go to my lovely

Major cities near Paris: