Paris, the capital of France, possesses a unique and lively character that forever changes those who visit, live or study in the city. One million people reside in Paris proper, and over eight million live in the surrounding Ile de France region, endowing the Paris metropolitan area with a legendary vibrance.

Divided into 20 districts or "arrondissements," Paris has a mosaic-like appeal. The Left Bank of the Seine River comprises the southern half of the city and has been home to the Latin Quarter, the center of French and international university life since the Middle Ages. A historical gathering place for students, artists, and intellectuals, the Left Bank has come to signify not only a geographical region, but also a particular lifestyle or fashion centered on scholarship and creativity. The Right Bank is traditionally known for its elegance and sophistication, and for what is perhaps its signature: the breathtaking avenue of the Champs-Elysées.

Cultural Paris both defies and exceeds expectation. Those traveling to the Louvre to view the famous Mona Lisa might be equally impressed by the stunning glass Pyramide juxtaposed with historic museum buildings, or by the rapturous Michelangelo sculptures also housed in the Louvre. Notre Dame, the Musée d’Orsay, L’Opéra, the Centre Georges Pompidou, the theaters, and the myriad smaller museums and galleries all provide unparalleled cultural opportunities.

Grand monuments such as the Eiffel Tower and Napoleon’s Arc de Triomphe yield an astounding backdrop for the bustling streets of contemporary Paris. Cafés, bookstalls along the Seine, fashionable stores and restaurants boasting gastronomic delights – all of these uniquely Parisian features give the city an atmosphere that Hemingway aptly described as, "a moveable feast."

Also see http://www.educo.asso.fr

Article: A Scholar's Paris, article by Duke Professor Alice Kaplan

Last revised: 7 February 2008