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The Île de France region is one of the ancient provinces of France, and the one that has been the centre of power during most of French history thanks to its attracting city: Paris. Today the Paris Region is France’s premier administrative region for its population and economy.
A brief description of the Île de France
Paris, nicknamed the ‘City of Light’ is the most visited city in the world, and the banks of its River, the Seine, are listed by the UNESCO. Its major landmark, the fascinating Eiffel Tower is Paris’ showcase to the whole world.
The Île de France today still aims to preserve the rich heritage that has been built throughout the centuries: the fortified farms, the royal forests, the magnificent gothic cathedrals and churches (Notre-Dame de Paris, Sainte-Chapelle, Saint-Denis), the medieval castles and the extravagant palaces of the Kings of France (such as those of the Louvre, Versailles, Fontainebleau, Vaux-le-Vicomte, Saint-Germain-en-Laye or Maisons-Laffitte).
Economy of the Île de France
Tourists may be surprised at some of the modern day projects such as the Grande Arche and Europe’s number 1 CBD La Défense, a symbol of the region’s economic power.
With transport infrastructure connecting the Île de France to the rest of the world, the region is a crossroad of European and international trade. With a population of 12 million (18.3% of the French population), it contributes to the production of a third of the economic wealth in France. The Île de France accounts for 6 million jobs, including 94% wages employment. A third of the 500 largest firms in the world have set their European headquarters in the Paris region.
Facts and figures
- Population: 12,005,077 (2014)
- Area: 12,012 km2
- Regional capital: Paris
- Other main cities: Versailles, Boulogne-Billancourt, Argenteuil, Saint-Denis, Bobigny
- President of the Regional Council: Valérie Pécresse (Les Républicains)
- Number of départements: 8
- Main sites: Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Notre-Dame Cathedral, Saint-Denis Basilica, Palace of Versailles, Palace of Fontainebleau, Vaux-le-Vicomte, Medieval Town of Provins, Disneyland Paris
Visit the official website of Paris Region
Our pages on ÎLE DE FRANCE

Top 10 Most Beautiful Bridges of Paris
No less than 37 bridges span the Seine, the river that separates the Left and…

A walk from Montparnasse to the Ecole Militaire, Paris
Although cold, winter in Paris is still stunning with lots of beautiful things to discover.…

Walking Tour of Maisons-Laffitte with our friends from Sydney
We have a French saying: “Après la pluie, le beau temps” that means ‘After the…

In search of Spring in Paris: at the Eiffel Tower
Today we reached central Paris in search of Spring. We thought the best spot to experience the…

Métro Line 14 registered a record number of passengers
Last month it was revealed that Line 14 of the Paris Métro has carried a record…

Would you go to the Catacombs of Paris? I just did!
Below the pleasant district of Denfert-Rochereau (14th arrondissement) with peaceful residential streets and lively Haussmann-style avenues…

10 interesting facts about Paris!
Here is a list of 10 interesting facts we learnt about Paris! 1. The golden dome…

Thirteenth Arrondissement of Paris
The Thirteenth arrondissement is well known by Parisians for the high-rise towers near the busy Place…

Eiffel Tower lit up in Blue-White-Red after the Paris attacks
From Monday 16 to Wednesday 25 November days the Eiffel Tower is lit up in Blue,…

Church of Notre-Dame de la Compassion, Paris
Caught between the Périphérique and the Convention Centre at Porte Maillot, the church of Notre-Dame…

Protected: 3 Ideas for Day Trips in the Paris Region
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Top 10 out-of-place Sites in Paris
French provincial atmosphere and African scenery in Paris? Despite its grand Haussmannian buildings, its neo-classical royal…

Top 10 biggest rallies in Paris
Paris, the city of love and the city of light, has also been known for…

From the roof of the Saint-Germain-en-Laye Castle
On a clear and sunny day I was fortunate to climb to the roof of…

Sous le Ciel de Paris: the story of the song
Still a popular song today, “Sous le Ciel de Paris” (Under the sky of Paris) has…

What you should know about Place des Vosges, Paris
The picturesque Place des Vosges is located in the Marais district in Paris, at the…

Discover the Alsatian Christmas market in Gare de l’Est
Stuck in Paris and can’t visit Alsace this Christmas? No worries, Alsace comes to you!…

Discover the Grande Arche de la Défense
Located in the outskirts of Paris, the monumental Grande Arche de La Défense is a…

Promenade across the Tuileries Garden in Paris
This past Sunday, as we wondered where to stroll in Paris, the Tuileries Garden came…

Paris New Year’s Eve 2015
Hundreds of thousand revellers thronged the streets of Paris to welcome the New Year, especially…

Top 10 Busiest Métro Stations in Paris
The Paris métro, operated by RATP (Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens), is the second-busiest subway network…

The 2015 Bastille Day Fireworks at the Eiffel Tower
We have researched for our readers some useful information about the fireworks display which will…

Hôtel Carnavalet, Paris
The fine Hôtel Carnavalet is a mansion from the 17th century is located at the corner of…

What you need to know about Bastille Day in France
What makes Bastille Day so special to the French? Mainly because this is the French…

Our top tips for walking in Paris
A lot of people we’ve met that are visiting Paris don’t necessarily come prepared. It…

What to see in the Third Arrondissement of Paris?
The Third arrondissement of Paris partly covers the historic district of Le Marais. It stretches from the…

Discover the Pere Lachaise Cemetery in Paris
The Pere Lachaise Cemetery in the 20th arrondissement of Paris is the largest operating cemetery of…

Top 10 Tallest Churches of Paris
Out of the hundreds of churches in Paris, which ones are the tallest? Maybe against…

Buy your tickets to Paris monuments and save time!
Preparing your trip to Paris can be a bit complicated to organise, particularly if you’re…

Our tips to enjoy Paris in the Spring
Millions of visitors visit Paris in the Summer. Little do they know that the French…

Queen Elizabeth II Flower Market in Paris
The delightful Queen Elizabeth II Flower Market in the 4th arrondissement of Paris was named in…

Place de la Concorde early in the morning
Have you ever thought of visiting central Paris early in the morning when the masses of…

Eleventh Arrondissement of Paris
The Eleventh Arrondissement of Paris has become over the last two decades a trendy place…

Sixth Arrondissement of Paris
The Sixth arrondissement includes the upmarket neighbourhood of Saint-Germain-des-Prés and the Luxembourg Garden, one of…

Top 10 Most Famous Monuments of Paris
Paris, the City of Light is the world’s most visited capital. The city is proud…

Nineteenth arrondissement of Paris
The Nineteenth arrondissement is a cosmopolitan district of Paris located on the right bank which includes the Park…

Christmas Nativity Scenes in Paris
Many Catholic churches in Paris set up a Nativity Scene at Christmas, which can be…

The Palais des Tuileries, in search of a missing Palace
The Palais des Tuileries (Tuileries Palace) is the former residence of the Kings and Queens of…

Saint-Étienne-du-Mont Church, Paris
The Saint-Étienne-du-Mont Church is a Gothic sanctuary located Place Sainte-Geneviève next to the Panthéon in…

Fête du Pain 2015 in Paris
From the 7th-17 May 2015, the Paris Bread Festival (Fête du Pain) has been celebrating its…

Notre-Dame de Paris: a guide to the Gothic cathedral
The cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris always makes a powerful impression to me. Well, doesn’t…

Discover the Montmartre Cemetery in Paris
The Montmartre Cemetery in the 18th arrondissement of Paris is the second largest operating cemetery of the…

When the Jardin d’Acclimatation was a human zoo
At the entrance of the Jardin d’Acclimatation is a commemorative plaque which does not draw…

Christmas in Paris: What to see and where to go
Each Christmas, Paris shows the world why it deserves the title of ‘City of light’.…

Paris-Plages along the River Seine
From mid-July to mid-August, the municipality of Paris runs a temporary artificial beach operation along…

Palais Garnier – Explore Paris’ Prestigious Opera House
The Opera Garnier or Palais Garnier is one of Paris’ most celebrated monuments. Situated in…

Place du Tertre, Montmartre
The little shaded square of Place du Tertre is situated just a stone’s throw away…

Paris Zoological Park, Bois de Vincennes
The Paris Zoological Park is situated in the 12th arrondissement of Paris. It offers to its visitors…

Discover Place Denfert-Rochereau in Paris
The Lion of Belfort is a bronze sculpture by Auguste Bartholdi that stands below the…

A selection of desserts from Paris
This is a very little post about a selection of desserts from Paris recently bought while walking…

Dramatic photos of the June 2016 Paris Floods
In May rainfall levels in Paris were the highest since 1873. Torrential rain caused catastrophic…

Second Arrondissement of Paris
The Second arrondissement of Paris is home to the Stock Exchange (la Bourse) and is bordered…

The elegance of Place Saint-Georges, Paris
Although small in size, the circular Place Saint-Georges owes its elegant look to the beautiful townhouses…

Christmas at the Grands-Magasins of Paris in 2014
Christmas at the Grands-Magasins of Paris is always a treat for the eye. In December, Printemps, Galeries Lafayette, Le…

Where to find the Statue of Liberty hidden in Paris?
There are a few replicas of the Statue of Liberty that are found across Paris:…

Sacré-Cœur Basilica, Paris
Situated in the 18th arrondissement, the majestic Sacré-Cœur basilica is one of Paris’ most visited monuments. The…

10 most unusual churches in Paris
Today, let’s have a look at 10 most unusual churches in Paris! When we think…

Free merry-go-rounds in Paris for Christmas
For Christmas 2015, Paris local or visiting children are invited to ride for free on one of…

Fantastic April Sunrise in Maisons-Laffitte
This morning we enjoyed a fantastic April Sunrise in Maisons-Laffitte and wanted to publish a…

25 Fun Facts about the Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower sounds like a magical name. What would Paris be like without the Eiffel…

Our first-ever Youtube video!
Discover Versailles Palace on Youtube! Here it is: our first-ever video on Youtube has been…

Back home at the market
In January we moved back to Maisons-Laffitte – a beautiful little town North-West of Paris.…

February in Paris: First Signs of Spring in the Gardens
Today as we walked across the 8th arrondissement and its public parks we encountered the first signs…

Place du Châtelet, Paris
Place du Châtelet is a public square that marks the border between the 1st and 4th…

Sweet sweet strawberries
BY RACHEL – This week was my daughter’s second birthday. What fun! We’re not doing…

Place de Furstemberg, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Paris
Situated in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés (6th arrondissement), the tiny Place de Furstemberg is one…

Christmas at Galeries Lafayette Haussmann in 2015
In 2015, the window display of the Galeries Lafayette are based on “a Christmas from…

The Ferris Wheel at Place de la Concorde
One of the most beautiful views of Paris at Christmas can be enjoyed from the big wheel…

Spring flowers and perfect sunny day in Montmartre
A sign that spring is coming is the sunny days we are having right now in Paris. We…

Discover the Ile Saint-Louis, Paris’ treasure island
Upstream from the Ile de la Cité and Notre-Dame cathedral, Ile Saint-Louis is the smaller…

Beautiful photos of the Louvre at night
We published new photos of the Louvre taken at night on our flickr account. The…

Discover the Quais de la Seine in Paris
The banks of River Seine (Quais de la Seine) in Paris have been listed by Unesco as…

And Paris’ highest street is…
A few days ago, one of our students in French asked us a tricky question:…

The Paris Carnival – A Little Guide
In Paris the carnival has a long story and can be traced back to the Middle-Ages. After a long hiatus…

Madeleine Church, Paris
The Madeleine Church in the 8th arrondissement in Paris was designed as a temple to…

Seven Chateaux in the Paris Region Visited in 10 Days
The Paris Region known as the Île de France is often bypassed by visitors drawn…

In the footsteps of Dalida in Montmartre
Who was Dalida? This is the inevitable question people ask me when walking on a…

Ménagerie of Jardin des Plantes
The Ménagerie of the Jardin des Plantes in the 5th arrondissement is a small zoo which…

Discover the Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris
Among the many parks and gardens of Paris, the Jardin du Luxembourg (Luxembourg Gardens) is certainly…

Brie de Meaux, Île de France
Brie de Meaux has been nicknamed King of Cheeses in France. Brie de Meaux is…

Gardens of Saint-Germain-en-Laye Castle
The castle of Saint-Germain-en-Laye is bordered by beautiful gardens. The domain extends to the forest and the Terrace…

April Walking Tour in Montmartre
One part I love about my job is to show people the beautiful parts of Paris.…

Sixteenth arrondissement of Paris
One of the most the most affluent and prestigious residential districts of Paris, the Sixteenth arrondissement…

Place de la Bastille, Paris
Shared with the 4th, 11th and 12th arrondissements, the Place de la Bastille is one…

Be stunned by the beauty of the Sainte-Chapelle, Paris
With its stunning stained-glass, the Sainte-Chapelle is gem of Gothic architecture in the heart of…

Horse meat butcher shops in Paris
How selling horse meat was made possible whilst it was considered a taboo food until…

September Walk in La Défense
Here are a few photos of our walk in La Défense, taken on a bright sunny…

Parc du Dispensaire, Sartrouville
On my previous post I published a few photos of our walk across the River…

Discover the Eiffel Tower, Paris’ iconic monument
The Eiffel Tower is one of the most famous monuments in the world. The iconic…

Top 10 Most Beautiful Squares of Paris
The French capital is famous for its historic squares such as Place de la Concorde…

Why it’s worth exploring the Forest of Saint-Germain
The forest of Saint-Germain-en-Laye is situated 20 km West of Paris and extends within a…

Where to find the Berlin Wall in Paris
On 9 November, Germany and Europe commemorate the fall of the Berlin Wall. The generation…

Rue des Cascades, Paris
Lined with low and tall houses, the quiet and green rue des Cascades, Paris is a surprising…

The Paris Challenge: 100 places to discover in Paris
I’ve been working hard in feeding this website over the past six years. There has been…

Discover the old Ivry windmill near Paris
Ivry-sur-Seine does not rank amongst my favourite destinations in the Paris region. I knew of…

Arènes de Lutèce, Paris
Little is left visible in Paris from the Roman era. Yet, the French capital boasts a…

Christmas 2016 at Galeries Lafayette Haussmann
Christmas 2016 at Galeries Lafayette is just amazing. The department store has done a great work…

Grand Gallery of Evolution, Paris
The monumental building housing the Grand Gallery of Evolution stands at the end of the…

Boules-aux-Rats, Saint-Germain-l’Auxerrois church in Paris
There is a mystery that scholars and historians have not yet succeeded to resolve. Perched…

Windmills of Montmartre, Paris
The steep rue Lepic (18th arrondissement) that climbs the hill of Montmartre gives access to Paris’ two…