Fun fact: Paris The City Of Light

Home to the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and many wonderful historic buildings, the capital city of France has a wealth of history, beauty, and romance.
What’s in a name?
The name Paris can trace its roots to the 3rd century BC and the Celtic settlers of the area, who were known as the “Parisii.” Today the people of Paris are called Parisians. Paris earned its nickname “The City of Light” when the city installed more than 50,000 gas lamps in the 1860s. Paris was also one of the first cities to have electricity. Paris is also sometimes referred to as “The City of Love,” probably because of its long history as a romantic tourist destination. The French language is understood and spoken by just about everyone in Paris.
Parisians
The people of Paris love life and good living, but living in the city can be expensive, so many (about 10 million) live in the suburbs and commute into town for jobs and recreation. More than half of all city dwellers live in studio and two-room apartments. The apartments are old, but cherished for their ornate fireplaces and historic charm. Fashion and fine dining are very important to Parisians. Dressing down in public isn’t acceptable. Parisians are very fond of their pet dogs, and dogs can be seen everywhere. French food and wine are considered some of the very best in the world, and cooking is considered an art in Paris.
Eiffel Tower
Construction on the Eiffel Tower began in 1887 and was finished in 1889. This iconic landmark weighs about 10,000 tons and requires 60 tons of paint every seven years. The tower has been repainted 18 times. There are 704 steps leading to the second floor of the tower, but the top is accessible only by elevator. The Eiffel Tower is 1,063 feet (324m) tall, with the top antenna. The tower was built to sway in the wind, but when the sun heats up, the top of the tower moves as much as 7 inches (18cm).
Notre Dame Cathedral
Notre-Dame de Paris is French for “Our Lady of Paris.” It took almost 200 years to build this cathedral. Finished around 1345, it is one of the first buildings in the world to use the flying buttress to distribute stress and weight. It has 10 bells, the largest weighing more than 13 tons. Hundreds of statues and gargoyles decorate the building, some serving as water spouts. The Musée du Louvre is one of the world’s largest art museums. Today the Louvre displays about 35,000 pieces of art and has more than 650,000 square feet (60,600 square metres) of gallery space. The Louvre pyramid was completed in 1989 and serves as an entrance to the museum.
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Just the Facts
Country France
Population 2.34 million
Area 40.7 sq. mi.
(105.4 sq. km)
Tourists
(annually) 15.6 million