Paris is considered one of the most touristy cities in the world: according to statistics, 12-15 million foreign travelers come here annually in recent years. The importance of tourism for the French capital is proved by the fact that more than 10% of Parisians work in this sphere of economy.
Such popularity is due to several reasons at once:
Geographical location
A glance at a map is enough to see France’s favorable position at the crossroads of international routes. It is easily accessible from both northern and southern Europe. Paris is practically in the very center of France, thanks to which it became a staging point and starting point of many routes back in the Roman times. The city’s popularity was also due to its convenient location and moderate climate of the region. Currently, the French capital is considered a major transportation center: 3 airports and 8 railway stations connect Paris with almost every corner of the Earth.
Historical factors
Already in the Middle Ages, the city enjoyed fame as a theological, cultural and educational center. One of the oldest and most authoritative universities in Europe, the Sorbonne, was founded here, where not only Frenchmen but also natives of other countries studied. The settlement gained even greater fame during the reign of Louis XIV, under whom the image of Paris as the capital of luxury began to take shape. The court of the “Sun King” became a role model for all European monarchs, who borrowed styles of dress, furniture features, customs and court etiquette Already in the XVII-XVIII centuries, representatives of royal and aristocratic families from different countries sought to visit Paris to see for themselves the splendor of Versailles and visit the capital’s shops. In the XIX century, the “city of light” became the cultural and artistic capital of Europe. Here lived numerous celebrities, worked famous fashion designers, were the best antique stores, art salons, great restaurants. All this attracted the public from different states. Initially, travelers had to go to Paris on their own, but already at the end of the XIX century there were organized tourist groups.
Cultural attractions
The popularity of Paris as a major tourist center is promoted by a huge number of cultural treasures. There are world-famous museums, especially the Louvre and d’Orsay, famous architectural monuments of different epochs: Notre Dame Cathedral, the Invalides’ House, Sacré-Coeur, the Eiffel Tower, as well as many attractions. The ancient districts of the city are characterized by their originality and beautiful architecture: the Latin Quarter, Montmartre, Isle of Cité and other districts can be called open-air museums, where you can walk for hours.
Developed infrastructure
The French capital is not only beautiful, but also very comfortable to live in. In all parts of Paris there are cozy green parks(Tuileries, Luxembourg Garden, Monsouri, Monceau and others), where you can always relax in the fresh air, and in the vicinity there are magnificent palace and park ensembles Versailles, Fontainebleau, Chantilly. In the city there are no problems with infrastructure facilities. Almost on every street you can easily find a restaurant or a cafe, a store, a bench or a shopping center. Those wishing to do shopping better go to the shopping streets or large department stores, the assortment of which surpasses imagination. For the convenience of tourists in Paris there are several types of public transportation, but it is most convenient to travel by the extensive metro system or by cab with a Russian-speaking chauffeur.
