“The City of Light”. Did it receive the name due to its fame as a cultural and educational center of the world during the Age of Enlightenment, or does it merely refer to its early implementation of street lighting? When it comes to Paris, no one cares how it got the name, it’s simply beautiful, simply spellbinding, simply Paris.

Early man inhabited the area we now know as Paris as early as 4200BC. The Romans moved in and took over in 52BC, followed by the Frankish King Clovis who made it his capital in 508 CE.

Paris was the scene of Allied victory parades during WWII. After the war Paris became known as an artist’s retreat, and all the greats lived here at one time or another.

Paris is spared temperature extremes due to its oceanic climate. I’ve been in Paris in April when the highs were in the 60’s and the low was 46. I’ve been in Paris in September and enjoyed highs in the 70’s and a low of 57.

Paris covers 34 square miles, is located on the river Seine (lovingly referred to as “a pretty blonde with laughing eyes”), and includes two well know islands in the middle of the river, the Ile de la Cite (site of Notre Dame), and the Ile Sant-Louis.

The Seine is the point of reference to the city; street numbers are determined by it, distances are measured from it, and it divides the city into two distinct areas, the Right Bank on the north side of the river and the Left Bank on the south. Virtually every historic building in Paris is located along the Seine.

A tourist in Paris has quite a list of “must-see” historic places. The Champs-Elysees is a seventeenth century garden promenade. It’s one of the main shopping districts in Paris. . The Arc de Triomphe is found here amidst the traffic and noise (there is an underground tunnel allowing pedestrians to access the Arc).

At the foot of the Champs-Elysees is the Place de la Concorde, built by Louis XV. This is where the guillotine was located and completed its grizzly mission.

Montmarte is a historic area where the artists had many of their studios. A few of the old windmills are still standing; reminding you this was once the outskirts of Paris.

The Latin Quarter is where the cheap housing was to be found for students, and they all spoke Latin, thus the name.

The Cathedral Notre Dame is probably the second most recognizable site in Paris. Located on the Ile de la Cite, no other building epitomized the history of Paris more than this great cathedral. Located on the site of an ancient Roman temple, the cathedral was commissioned in 1159. Since the recent fire you won’t be able to tour the interior of the Cathedral, but be sure to enjoy it from every angle outside the protected area.

The Musee du Louvre is another must see when visiting Paris. Originally built as a fortress in 1190 by King Philippe-Auguste to protect Paris against Viking raids, it has been continually enlarged and improved. Now housing one of the most important art collections in the world, the Louvre includes a substantial Parthenon exhibit, which I was delighted to see.

As evidenced by the many guidebooks in the travel section of bookstores relating to Paris, the city is one in which a person could spend weeks and never experience all it has to offer. I can’t wait to return to Paris.