Ile De France can well be called the heart of France not only for its
location but as well for Paris being situated here.
The Ile-de-France region includes the city of Paris and the surrounding area.
It is one of the smallest regions geographically, covering only 2% of the
total area of France, but its 11 million inhabitants, making Ile-de-France one of the most populated urban
areas in Europe.
There is not much to be said about Paris that is not already well known, the city of beauty, dreams and
romance, Paris is the favourite place for young and old people in love with each
other and with one of the most famous cities of Europe. Here is the European
Disneyland and Louvre, boutiques and Eiffel tower, and even the longest visit
will be too short to see and feel everything. The towns surrounding Paris are
not less beautiful, with never ending choice of museums, palaces and cathedrals.
Paris is a beautiful city. It has everything a city lover could possibly
desire. Chic little boutiques and huge department stores, wonderful art
galleries and performance spaces, superb restaurants, and huge flea and
antique markets. There are elegant squares and pretty parks and the Seine must
be the most romantic waterfront in the world.
Paris is certainly an ideal place for those living in central London to have a
second, albeit second urban, home. For those used to London, Paris
seems a lot smaller and manageable. Even though the Metro map looks like
a bowl of spaghetti, it's very fast, efficient, clean and once you get to grips
with it, easy to navigate.
Paris is called ‘magnifique’ in so many ways, one cannot count them all:
Paris the 'City of Love'. Paris
the 'City of Lights'. Paris is the
city with some of the most extraordinary and diverse architecture in the world:
it includes castles (Versaille which was built by Louis XIV, and one of the
three most visited sites in France), churches (Notre Dame a fine example of
Gothic architecture) and an array of charming buildings.
No other city in the world compares to Paris in the eyes of the gourmet!
Everyday items that you can pick up in the ‘supermarche’ include
delightful pates, the most luscious cheeses in the world, succulent fruits and
mouth-watering patisseries and pain! And, let us not forget the coffee, the best there is, especially so when sipped while
sitting at a sidewalk cafe and enjoying the parade strolling by.
Due to France's strict centralized administration, and because Paris
lies at its heart, the region is inescapable when travelling to the country or to
the countryside. All the major airports, train stations, highways are located
near Paris or go through it. It is the country's main transportation hub, its
cultural centre, and the site of its government.
Paris is surrounded by vast forests and parks which are the perfect way to
spend a day out in the open. West of the capital, just minutes from the centre are
the Bois de Boulogne and the Parc de Saint-Cloud. Farther west is the forest
of Marly, hunting grounds of the Versailles royal court. East of Paris is
the Jardin de Vincennes, with its castle and zoo. In the centre of the city, one
can find a little respite from the bustle of one of Europe's largest cities in
gardens such as the Luxembourg on the Left Bank or the Buttes-Chaumont
on the Right Bank.