Paris is the capital and largest city of France. It is situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region. The city of Paris, within its administrative limits largely unchanged since 1860, has an estimated population of 2,193,031 (January 2007), but the Paris aire urbaine (or metropolitan area) has a population of 11,836,970 (January 2007), and is one of the most populated metropolitan areas in Europe.
In 2009 and 2010, Paris has been ranked among the first 3 most important and influential cities in the world, among the first 3 "European cities of the future" - according to a research published by Financial Times and among the first 10 cities in the world "where to live in" according to the British review Monocle (June 2010). An important settlement for more than two millennia, Paris is today one of the world's leading business and cultural centres, and its influences in politics, education, entertainment, media, fashion, science, and the arts all contribute to its status as one of the world's major global cities. Paris ranks also among the first 10 wealthiest cities in 2020 and 2025 together with Shangai, São Paulo, Tokyo, New York City and London.
Paris is considered today to be one of the most beautiful and vibrant cities in Europe. In order to alleviate social tensions in the inner suburbs and revitalise the metropolitan economy of Paris, several plans are currently underway. The office of Secretary of State for the Development of the Capital Region was created in March 2008 within the French government. Its office holder, Christian Blanc, is in charge of overseeing President Nicolas Sarkozy's plans for the creation of an integrated Grand Paris ("Greater Paris") metropolitan authority (see Administration section below), as well as the extension of the subway network to cope with the renewed growth of population in Paris and its suburbs, and various economic development projects to boost the metropolitan economy such as the creation of a world-class technology and scientific cluster and university campus on the Saclay plateau in the southern suburbs.
Panoramic view over the western side of Paris, at dusk, from the top of the Tour Montparnasse.
Disneyland Paris