Paris - France

The history of Paris is a very exciting on and many people choose to travel here every year. The city started out as a Celtic market place and has during the centuries been bombarded, besieged, invaded and haunted by robbers and plagues. Today, however, Paris is a large world metropolis with over nine million inhabitants.

The most beautiful city in the world can at times be difficult to understand. The twenty city districts (called arrondissement) are arranged in a swivel-like pattern from the islands on the Seine River outwards in numbered sequence. Once upon a time, Paris could also be divided between the southern and northern river beaches. The southern port was the place for red whine, bohemians and Latin quarters. On the northern there was Chanel dresses, champagne and the Arc de Triomphe.

Today’s Latin quarters are chique hangarounds for students and other younger crowds, but also an excellent area for romantic walks among book salesmen and ice cream vendors. If you travel here, a good tip is to keep your eyes peeled for classic and cosy Paris restaurants on narrow side streets. Sometimes the best ones are the hardest to find.

Paris most famous landmark, the Eiffel Tower, is located in the seventh district. It towers majestically from the Champ de Mars, a large public green-space. If the weather is right, a good idea is to walk here right along River Seine. It’s easy to find as well because of its height of 1,063 ft. The tower is named after its designer, Gustave Eiffel and was built in 1887. Be prepared to stand in line for a while with other tourists who have chosen to travel here, as the tower had nearly seven million visitors in 2006. If you are planning on visiting the Tower, a good tip is to come early, when the lines are only half the size they'll be later in the day.

If your legs are up for it, take a walk downtown along the river. After about thirty minutes you will spot the Louvre Museum on the other side. This has to be the most famous and visited museums and art galleries in the world, the oldest and largest as well. You could spend several days in here if you are a real art buff, but most people come to see Leonardo Da Vinci's Mona Lisa (which most people say is a lot smaller than they expected), and to see for themselves the scenes from The Da Vinci Code. Why not prepare and bring a bottle of whine and some sandwiches and have a nice bite on one of the benches in the wonderful square in front of the buildings?

Looking further down river you will spot and island in the middle, the Ile de la Cité. There are actually two islands, another behind the other. On Ile de la Cité stands the church of Notre Dame, famous from the Victor Hugo novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame. The cathedral is also regarded a historical world monument by the United Nations. The inside of the church shows magnificent architecture and breaths history and greatness. The tour up and down the stairs to see the gargoyles and the huge church bell is a must if your travel arrangements bring you here.