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Paris, France
When Cole Porter, the famous American song writer, wrote
that he loved Paris, he spoke for many artists of his generation
and other visitors who visit Paris from all over the world.
The capital of France, Paris is located in the north-central
part of the country. It is situated on both sides of the Seine
river, and is a 2,000 year old city founded by a Gallic tribe
known as the Parisii. Conquered by Romans and then the Gaul, it
was eventually established as the capital of France in 987.
Paris has become the political, commercial, industrial,
cultural and social center of France. It is also one of the main
tourist attractions in Europe based in part because of its beauty
and intellectual life which has attracted writers and artists for
centuries.
The population of Paris grew rapidly until the Second World
War when it reached 1.2 million. While France grew relatively
slowly, Paris continued to grow and reached 2.15 million in 1990.
Like many large cosmopolitan cities, a survey in 1962 showed
that two out of three residents of Paris had been born elsewhere,
and came to the city later.
It is not only the center of the principle river basin of
France and one of the most fertile agricultural regions, it
is also the chief industrial and commercial city, the center of
international trade as well as the bank and insurance
headquarters of the country.
The central government contributes more than half of the city
revenues, including financing for school, sewers and day care
centers. The state also finances public hospitals and welfare
costs and as much as 10% of the city budget is devotes to
sanitation. Business and tourist streets are cleared twice daily.
Public transport is organized so well that one is rarely more
than 600 meters from a Metro (Subway) Station but is now
struggling to services suburbs as well. If this is done
successfully it would help reduce traffic congestion in the city.
There is, like in many large cities, a lack of affordable
housing and the city has its problems with the homeless. But the
government does provide some shelter for the homeless: up to
15,000 homeless persons are permitted to live for up to six
months in 60 government-run or private shelters where they
receive medical care and job training.
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