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Paris is the capital
city of France. It is situated on the River
Seine, in northern France, at the heart
of the Île-de-France region ("Region
Parisienne"). Paris has an estimated
population of 2,153,600 within city limits
(2005 est.). The Paris urban area has a
population of 9.93 million; a vast commuter
belt around the same completes the Paris "aire
urbaine" (roughly: "metropolitan
area") that, with its population of
11.5 million, is one of the most populated
areas of its kind in Europe.
But what sets Paris
apart from other capitals is the attraction
of its cultural life. The monuments seem
never-ending - the Eiffel Tower, the Champs-Elysées
boulevard, the Arc de Triomphe or Notre-Dame
cathedral are the most prestigious. No
fewer than 150 museums, at the head of
which can be found the Louvre, are witness
to the cultural and artistic vitality.
The influence of the city of lights does
not stop there - the world of fashion,
luxury goods, gastronomy, night spots all
nourish its reputation. On top of that,
in 2007 Paris will be crowned the capital
of rugby.
Parc des Princes is
a 46,480-seat stadium in the 16th arrondissement
of Paris, France. It is the home of football
team Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and was
the national stadium of France until the
Stade de France was built for the 1998
Football World Cup. The stadium and grounds
are owned by the City of Paris. The name
Parc des Princes was given to the surrounding
area during the 18th century, when it was
a forest used by the royal family for hunting.
Paris has been a premier destination for
the rugby and this Parc des Princes is
one of the premiere stadium to host this
game.
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