Île-de-France, Administrative region in Metropolitan France, France
This administrative region includes Paris and seven surrounding departments covering around 12,000 square kilometers of territory in northern France. The landscape shifts from dense urban neighborhoods to forests, farmland, and small towns connected by rivers and roads.
The territory became the heartland of the French kingdom in the 10th century when the Capetian kings established their seat in Paris. Over the following centuries it grew steadily, drawing people from across France and beyond its borders.
People gather in markets for cheese, wine, and fresh bread, while neighbors meet in cafés and parks across all districts, from the smallest village to the central arrondissements. Theaters and concert halls welcome audiences nightly, offering performances ranging from classical drama to modern music throughout the eight departments.
Trains, metro lines, and buses cover all departments, making it easy to move between cities, towns, and villages across the territory. Cycling paths follow canals and green spaces, offering another way to explore neighborhoods and surrounding countryside.
Roughly one third of the national economy originates here, making it the largest economic engine in the country. Despite this density forests around the metropolis shelter deer and wild boar only a short distance from crowded city centers.
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The castles surrounding Paris provide insight into several centuries of French history. From medieval fortresses to Renaissance palaces to Napoleonic residences, each structure represents different architectural styles and periods. These buildings served as homes for French kings, emperors and noble...
Île-de-France offers numerous historic sites beyond Paris, including medieval fortresses, artist residences, botanical gardens and art museums. The Château de Blandy-les-Tours preserves 13th-century military architecture, while the Albert Kahn Museum & Gardens contains a collection of historic...
Padel tennis has grown throughout Île-de-France, with courts popping up across Paris and the surrounding areas. You'll find places to play whether you're just starting out or have been hitting the ball for years. Some venues have just a couple of courts, while others operate entire complexes with a...
Eiffel Tower
1.9 km
Notre-Dame de Paris
2.5 km
Palace of Versailles
15.2 km
Louvre Museum
1.9 km
Catacombs of Paris, France
2.1 km
Arc de Triomphe
3.1 km
Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie
7.3 km
Avenue des Champs-Élysées
2.3 km
Disneyland Paris
34.1 km
Panthéon
2.2 km
Venus de Milo
1.9 km
Stade de France
8.9 km
Moulin Rouge
4 km
Sacré-Cœur
4.5 km
Les Invalides
635 m
Montmartre
4.5 km
Musée d'Orsay
1.3 km
Bibliothèque nationale de France
4.7 km
Foucault pendulum
2.2 km
Père Lachaise Cemetery
5.8 km
Parc des Princes
4.8 km
Notre-Dame de Chartres
75.6 km
Winged Victory of Samothrace
1.8 km
Sainte Chapelle
2.2 km
Louvre Pyramid
1.9 km
Place de la Concorde
1.8 km
Palais Garnier
2.7 km
Champ de Mars
1.5 km
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