Horn & Kelley

Paris hosts one of largest science museums Europe Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie La Villette attracted 2.4 million visitors 2017National Museum of Natural History Left Bank attracted 1.76 million visitors 2016 famous its dinosaur artefacts mineral collections its Gallery of Evolution military history of France from Middle Ages World War II vividly presented displays Musée de l'Armée Les Invalides near tomb of Napoleon addition national museums run French Ministry of Culture City of Paris operates 14 museums including Carnavalet Museum history of Paris Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris Palais de Tokyo House of Victor Hugo House of Balzac Catacombs of Paris There also notable private museums Contemporary Art museum of Louis Vuitton Foundation designed architect Frank Gehry opened October 2014 Bois de Boulogne received 1.4 million visitors 2017Theatre, Originally applied whole Frankish Empire name France comes from Latin Francia or country of Franks Modern France still named today Francia Italian Spanish Frankreich (Frankish Empire) German Frankrijk Dutch all of which have more or less same historical meaningThere various theories origin of name Frank Following precedents of Edward Gibbon Jacob Grimm, name of Franks has been linked with word frank (free) Englishhas been suggested that meaning of free was adopted because after conquest of Gaul only Franks were free of taxation Another theory that derived from Proto-Germanic word frankon which translates javelin or lance throwing axe of Franks was known francisca However has been determined that these weapons were named because of their use Franks not other way aroundHistory, The French Republic unitary semi-presidential representative democratic republic with strong democratic traditionsConstitution of Fifth Republic was approved referendum 28 September 1958greatly strengthened authority of executive relation parliament executive branch itself has two leaders President of Republic currently Emmanuel Macron who head of state elected directly universal adult suffrage 5-year term (formerly 7 years), Government led president-appointed Prime MinisterThe National Assembly lower house of French ParliamentThe French Parliament bicameral legislature comprising National Assembly (Assemblée Nationale) SenateNational Assembly deputies represent local constituencies directly elected 5-year termsAssembly has power dismiss government thus majority Assembly determines choice of government Senators chosen electoral college 6-year terms (originally 9-year terms) one half of seats submitted election every 3 years starting September 2008The Senate's legislative powers limited event of disagreement between two chambers National Assembly has final sayGovernment has strong influence shaping agenda of ParliamentUntil World War II Radicals were strong political force France embodied Republican Radical Radical-Socialist Party which was most important party of Third Republic Since World War II they were marginalized while French politics became characterised two politically opposed groupings one left-wing centred French Section of Workers' International its successor Socialist Party (since 1969) other right-wing centred Gaullist Party whose name changed over time Rally of French People (1947) Union of Democrats Republic (1958) Rally Republic (1976) Union Popular Movement (2007) Republicans (since 2015) 2017 presidential legislative elections radical centrist party En Marche! became dominant force overtaking both Socialists RepublicansLaw. The Opéra de Marseille Palais du Pharo Main article Lugdunum. Tour IncityMuseums Saint-Exupéry International Airport (formerly Satolas Airport) designed Guillaume Gilbert, The Stade de France was built 1998 FIFA World Cup listed UEFA category four stadiumThe French Open also called Roland-Garros major tennis tournament held over two weeks between late May early June Stade Roland-Garros Paris premier clay court tennis championship event world second of four annual Grand Slam tournamentsRugby union popular particularly Paris southwest of Francenational rugby union team has competed every Rugby World Cup takes part annual Six Nations Championship Stemming from strong domestic league French rugby team has won 16 Six Nations Championships including 8 grand slams has reached semi-final of Rugby World Cup 6 times going final 3 timesRugby league France mostly played followed South of France cities such Perpignan Toulouse Catalans Dragons Toulouse Olympique most notable clubs currently playing Super League RFL Championship top-tier rugby league competitions Europe Elite One Championship professional competition rugby league clubs FranceIn recent decades France has produced world-elite basketball players most notably Tony Parker French National Basketball Team won gold FIBA EuroBasket 2013 national team has won two Olympic Silver Medals 2000 1948Paris (French pronunciation ​[paʁi] (About this sound listen)) capital most populous city of France with area of 105 square kilometres (41 square miles) population of 2,206,488 With 200,000 inhabitants 1328 Paris then already capital of France was most populous city of Europe comparison London 1300 had 80,000 inhabitants Since 17th century Paris has been one of Europe's major centres of finance commerce fashion science music painting Paris Region had GDP of €681 billion (US$850 billion) 2016 accounting 31 per cent of GDP of France2013–2014 Paris Region had third-highest GDP world largest regional GDP EU According Economist Intelligence Unit Worldwide Cost of Living Survey 2018 Paris was second-most expensive city world behind Singapore ahead of Zurich Hong Kong Oslo GenevaThe City of Paris's administrative limits form East-West oval centred island its historical heart Île de la Cité this island near top of arc of river Seine that divides city into southern Rive Gauche (Left Bank) northern Rive Droite regions Paris core of built-up area that extends well beyond its limits commonly referred agglomération Parisienne statistically unité urbaine (a measure of urban area) Paris agglomeration's 2013 population of 10,601,122 made largest urban area European Union.[not citation given] City-influenced commuter activity reaches well beyond even this statistical aire urbaine de Paris (a measure of metropolitan area) that had 2013 population of 12,405,426, number one-fifth population of France, largest metropolitan area EurozoneThe city major rail highway air-transport hub served two international airports Paris-Charles de Gaulle (the second busiest airport Europe after London Heathrow Airport with 69.5 million passengers 2017) Paris-Orly Opened 1900 city's subway system Paris Métro serves 5.23 million passengers daily, second busiest metro system Europe after Moscow Metro Paris's Gare du Nord one of ten busiest railway stations world with 262 million passengers 2015Paris especially known its museums architectural landmarks Louvre was most visited art museum world 2017 with 8.1 million visitorsMusée d'Orsay Musée de l'Orangerie noted their collections of French Impressionist art Pompidou Centre Musée National d'Art Moderne has largest collection of modern contemporary art Europe historical district along Seine city centre classified UNESCO Heritage Site Popular landmarks centre of city include Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris Gothic royal chapel of Sainte-Chapelle both Île de la Cité Eiffel Tower constructed Paris Universal Exposition of 1889 Grand Palais Petit Palais built Paris Universal Exposition of 1900 Arc de Triomphe Champs-Élysées Basilica of Sacré-Coeur hill of Montmartre Paris received 23 million visitors 2017 measured hotel stays with largest numbers of foreign visitors coming from United States UK Germany Chinawas ranked third most visited travel destination world 2017 after Bangkok LondonThe football club Paris Saint-Germain rugby union club Stade Français based Paris 80,000-seat Stade de France built 1998 FIFA World Cup located just north of Paris neighbouring commune of Saint-Denis Paris hosts annual French Open Grand Slam tennis tournament red clay of Roland Garros Paris hosted Olympic Games 1900 1924 will host 2024 Summer Olympics 1938 1998 FIFA World Cups 2007 Rugby World Cup 1960 1984 2016 UEFA European Championships were also held city and every July Tour de France bicycle race finishes thereEtymology, Centre d'histoire de la résistance et de la déportation. See also Taxation France, 6th arrondissement Brotteaux Bellecombe Parc de la Tête d'or Cité Internationale, masthead of Le Figaro newspaper. Serge Gainsbourg one of world's most influential popular musicians Paris skyline 2014. Hollywood-style Marseille sign Grand EstBourgogne-Franche-Comté The Métropole du Grand Paris or simply Grand Paris formally came into existence 1 January 2016administrative structure co-operation between City of Paris its nearest suburbs includes City of Paris plus communes of three departments of inner suburbs (Hauts-de-Seine Seine-Saint-Denis Val-de-Marne) plus seven communes outer suburbs including Argenteuil Val d'Oise Paray-Vieille-Poste Essonne which were added include major airports of Paris Metropole covers 814 square kilometres (314 square miles) has population of 6.945 million personsThe new structure administered Metropolitan Council of 210 members not directly elected but chosen councils of member Communes 2020 its basic competencies will include urban planning housing protection of environmentfirst president of metropolitan council Patrick Ollier Republican mayor of town of Rueil-Malmaison was elected 22 January 2016 Though Metropole has population of nearly seven million persons accounts 25 percent of GDP of France has very small budget just 65 million Euros compared with eight billion Euros City of ParisRegional government.

The Old Port or Vieux-Port main harbour marina of city guarded two massive forts (Fort Saint-Nicolas Fort Saint-Jean) one of main places eat city Dozens of cafés line waterfront Quai des Belges end of harbour site of daily fish market Much of northern quayside area was rebuilt architect Fernand Pouillon after its destruction Nazis 1943The Hôtel de Ville (City Hall) baroque building dating from 17th centuryThe Centre Bourse adjacent Rue St Ferreol district (including Rue de Rome Rue Paradis) main shopping area central MarseilleThe Porte d'Aix triumphal arch commemorating French victories Spanish ExpeditionThe Hôtel-Dieu former hospital Le Panier transformed into InterContinental hotel 2013La Vieille Charité Le Panier architecturally significant building designed Puget brothers central baroque chapel situated courtyard lined with arcaded galleries Originally built alms house now home archeological museum gallery of African Asian art well bookshops café also houses Marseille International Poetry CentreThe Cathedral of Sainte-Marie-Majeure or La Major founded 4th century enlarged 11th century completely rebuilt second half of 19th century architects Léon Vaudoyer Henri-Jacques Espérandieu present day cathedral gigantic edifice Romano-Byzantine style romanesque transept choir altar survive from older medieval cathedral spared from complete destruction only result of public protests timeThe 12th-century parish church of Saint-Laurent adjoining 17th-century chapel of Sainte-Catherine quayside near CathedralThe Abbey of Saint-Victor one of oldest places of Christian worship Europe Its 5th-century crypt catacombs occupy site of Hellenic burial ground later used Christian martyrs venerated ever since Continuing medieval tradition, every year Candlemas Black Madonna from crypt carried procession along Rue Sainte blessing from archbishop followed mass distribution of navettes green votive candlesMuseums, Later came precursors of modern classical music Érik Satie was key member of early-20th-century Parisian avant-garde best known his Gymnopédies Francis Poulenc's best known works his piano suite Trois mouvements perpétuels (1919) ballet Les biches (1923) Concert champêtre (1928) harpsichord orchestra opera Dialogues des Carmélites (1957) Gloria (1959) soprano choir orchestra Maurice Ravel Claude Debussy most prominent figures associated with Impressionist music Debussy was among most influential composers of late 19th early 20th centuries his use of non-traditional scales chromaticism influenced many composers who followed Debussy's music noted its sensory content frequent usage of atonality two composers invented new musical forms new sounds Ravel's piano compositions such Jeux d'eau Miroirs Le tombeau de Couperin Gaspard de la nuit demand considerable virtuosity His mastery of orchestration evident Rapsodie espagnole Daphnis et Chloé his arrangement of Modest Mussorgsky's Pictures Exhibition his orchestral work Boléro (1928) More recently middle of 20th century Maurice Ohana Pierre Schaeffer Pierre Boulez contributed evolutions of contemporary classical musichead shot of Serge Gainsbourg. Economic conditions political unrest Europe rest of world brought several other waves of immigrants during 20th century Greeks Italians started arriving end of 19th century first half of 20th century up 40% of city's population was of Italian origin Russians 1917 Armenians 1915 1923 Vietnamese 1920s 1954 after 1975 Corsicans during 1920s 1930s Spanish after 1936 North Africans (both Arab Berber) inter-war period Sub-Saharan Africans after 1945 pieds-noirs from former French Algeria 1962 then from Comoros 2006 was reported that 70,000 city residents were considered be of Maghrebi origin mostly from Algeria second largest group Marseille terms of single nationalities were from Comoros amounting some 45,000 peopleCurrently over one third of population of Marseille can trace their roots back Italy Marseille also has second-largest Corsican Armenian populations of France Other significant communities include Maghrebis Turks Comorians Chinese VietnameseIn 1999 several arrondissements about 40% of young people under 18 were of Maghrebi origin (at least one immigrant parent)Since 2013 immigrants from Eastern Europe travel work city of Marseille attracted better job opportunities good climate of this Mediterranean city main nationalities Romanians PolesReligion.