2. Paris Is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the France region. The city of Paris, within its administrative limits largely unchanged since 1860, has an estimated population of 2,211,297 (January 2008), but the Paris metropolitan area has a population of 11,899,544 (January 2008),and is one of the most populated metropolitan areas in Europe. Paris was the largest city in the Western world for about 1,000 years, prior to the 19th century, and the largest in the entire world between the 16th and 19th centuries.
4. Architecture Much of contemporary Paris is the result of the vast mid-19th century urban remodeling. For centuries, the city had been a labyrinth of narrow streets and half-timber houses, but, beginning with Haussmann's advent, entire quarters were leveled to make way for wide avenues lined with neo-classical stone buildings of bourgeoisie standing. Most of this 'new' Paris is the Paris we see today.
5. Sports Paris' most popular sport clubs are the association football club Paris Saint-Germain FC, the basketball team Paris-Levalloisian Basket, and the rugby union club State François. The 80,000-seat State de France, built for the 1998 FIFA World Cup, is located in Saint-Denis. It is used for football, rugby union and track and field athletics. It hosts annually French national rugby team's home matches of the Six Nations Championship, French national association football team for friendliest and major tournaments qualifiers, and several important matches of the State François rugby team.
