Paris is the capital and largest city of France. Located on the river Seine in the country's North, it is a major cultural and political centre of Europe and the world's most visited city.

The area's first inhabitants, a Celtic tribe named the "Parisii" give Paris its name. Its eponym, "the City of Lights" (la Ville Lumière), dates from 1828, when it became the first city in Europe to light its main boulevards, with gas street lamps along its Champs-Élysées. It is also widely referred to as the "most romantic city in the world".

As a cultural and political centre for Europe since the early Middle Ages, Paris preserves many vestiges of its past. While hosting numerous art galleries, museums and theatres, it has grown into a significant centre of international trade with ever-growing modern business districts, including La Défense, the de facto city centre built for the purpose. In addition to the head offices of nearly half of all France's companies and the offices of many major international firms, Paris hosts the headquarters of many international trade and social organisations, including the OECD and UNESCO. Paris is the third largest metropolitan area in Europe (after Moscow and London).

Because of its financial, business, political, and tourism activities, Paris today is one of the world's major transportation hubs. Along with New York, London and Tokyo, it is often listed as one of the four major global cities.