Paris, France, is the capital and most populous city of France, known for its history, art, fashion, and culture. The city spans the River Seine in the northern part of the country. It's a global hub for art, fashion, gastronomy, and culture. Paris' 19th-century cityscape is crisscrossed by wide boulevards and the River Seine, with landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame Cathedral, and the 12th-century, Gothic Sainte-Chapelle. The city is well known for its cafe culture and designer boutiques along the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré. Paris is often referred to as 'The City of Light' ('La Ville Lumière'), a title owing to its fame as a centre of education and ideas during the Age of Enlightenment, and more literally because Paris was one of the first large European cities to use gas street lighting on a grand scale on its boulevards and monuments. The city's culturally rich historical districts, its museums including the Louvre and the Musée d'Orsay, as well as landmarks like the Sacré-Cœur and Montmartre, all contribute to its status as one of the world's most visited cities.
