Paris is the capital city of France. It is situated on the River Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region ("Region Parisienne"). Paris has an estimated population of 2,153,600 inhabitants (2005 est.)[2]. The Paris urban area has a population of 9.93 million[3]; a vast commuter belt around the same completes the Paris "aire urbaine" (roughly: "metropolitan area") that, with its population of 11.5 million[4], is one of the most populated areas of its kind in Europe.[5] The Paris region (Île-de-France) is France's foremost centre of economic activity. With €478.7 billion (US$595.3 billion), it produced more than a quarter of the gross domestic product (GDP) of France of in 2005.[6]With La Defense, the largest purpose built business district in Europe, it hosts the head offices of almost half of the major French companies, as well as the headquarters of ten of the world's 100 largest companies [7] Paris also hosts many international organizations such as UNESCO, the OECD, the ICC, or the informal Paris Club. It is regarded as one of the 4 major global cities[8]. Paris' strategic location at a crossroads between land and river trade routes in lands of abundant agriculture had made it one of France's principal cities by the 10th century, rich with Royal palaces and demurs, wealthy Abbeys and a cathedral; by the 12th century Paris had become one of Europe's foremost centres of learning and the arts. Today, Paris is an influential centre in politics, fashion, business, arts and science. The city serves as an important hub of intercontinental transportation and is home to some of the most prominent universities, sport events, opera companies and museums[9][10], making it an attraction for over 30 million foreign visitors per year[11].
