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 Île de France is France’s premier region for its population and economy.
A brief description of the Île de France
The River Seine in Paris © French Moments
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
The esplanade of La Défense © French Moments
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
Our pages on ÎLE DE FRANCE
Fantastic April Sunrise in Maisons-Laffitte
This morning we enjoyed a fantastic April Sunrise in Maisons-Laffitte and wanted to publish a…
Seventeenth arrondissement of Paris
The large Seventeenth arrondissement of Paris is located on the right bank between Porte Maillot, the Arc…
The Conciergerie, one of Paris’ oldest monuments
With its distinctive towers, the edifice on the Île de la Cité used to belong…
Paris before and after the 2016 floods
At the time of writing this article, the water level of the River Seine is…
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’.…
Why you need to discover the Historical Axis of Paris
The Historical Axis, on the Right Bank of Paris, is probably one of the most…
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…
Second Arrondissement of Paris
The Second arrondissement of Paris is home to the Stock Exchange (la Bourse) and is bordered…
We’ve found Napoleon’s hat in Paris
Last weekend we were walking in the streets of Saint-Germain-des-Prés in the 6th arrondissement of…
Arab World Institute of Paris
The Arab World Institute (AWI) in Paris is a cultural centre dedicated to the arabic…
French elegance in Place de la Concorde, Paris
The majestic and impressive Place de la Concorde plays a great symbolic part along the prestigious Historical…
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…
Horse meat butcher shops in Paris
How selling horse meat was made possible whilst it was considered a taboo food until…
Our first-ever Youtube video!
Discover Versailles Palace on Youtube! Here it is: our first-ever video on Youtube has been…
Guide to Paris’ Food Scene
By Emily Jones. There are quite a few things that instantly come to ones mind when…
Conciergerie Clock, Paris
The beautiful gilded Conciergerie clock is hang on the Clock Tower of the Conciergerie. It is situated…
What you should know about Place des Vosges, Paris
The picturesque Place des Vosges is located in the Marais district in Paris, at the…
Place de la Bastille, Paris
Shared with the 4th, 11th and 12th arrondissements, the Place de la Bastille is one…
Grand Gallery of Evolution, Paris
The monumental building housing the Grand Gallery of Evolution stands at the end of the…
The fourteen Cemeteries of Paris
There are fourteen cemeteries within the limits of the municipality of Paris, some of them…
This is Léon, the last Gas streetlamp in Paris !
Malakoff does not rank amongst my favourite destinations in the Paris region. I knew very…
Queen Elizabeth II Flower Market in Paris
The delightful Queen Elizabeth II Flower Market in the 4th arrondissement of Paris was named in…
And Paris’ highest street is…
A few days ago, one of our students in French asked us a tricky question:…
Panoramic Views of Opera Garnier, Paris
The Opera Garnier (or Palais Garnier) is one of Paris’ most celebrated monuments. Situated in the 9th arrondissement at the end…
Paris parks to be open all night during Summer
Today, the municipality of Paris has announced the opening of four great parks all night during…
Berlin Wall Section in Paris
Last week during a walk across the 16th arrondissement I stumbled upon a historic piece…
Top Facts about Bastille Day 2015
Tomorrow will be a very special day for the French as the nation will celebrate Bastille…
Fourteenth Arrondissement of Paris
The Fourteenth arrondissement is well known by Parisians for including a large part of the Montparnasse…
Hôtel Carnavalet, Paris
The fine Hôtel Carnavalet is a mansion from the 17th century is located at the corner of…
Discover the stunning view from Tour Montparnasse
The Tour Montparnasse (Montparnasse Tower) is a high-rise building overlooking the district of Montparnasse in…
Amazing places to see on a Paris by night tour
Both in Winter or Summer, the City of lights stays lively all night long. You…
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…
Discover the Pere Lachaise Cemetery in Paris
The Pere Lachaise Cemetery in the 20th arrondissement of Paris is the largest operating cemetery of…
Preparing for Bastille Day in Paris
The preparations for the celebrations of Bastille Day in Paris are taking shape with the installations and…
Fun Fair of the Tuileries in Paris
Set-up in the Tuileries garden for two months in July and August, the annual fun…
Fifteenth arrondissement of Paris
The Fifteenth arrondissement is dominated by the Eiffel Tower. The vast area of “le quinzième” extends…
Place de la Concorde, Paris
The majestic Place de la Concorde is another impressive site and is renowned for its…
Fête du Pain 2015 in Paris
From the 7th-17 May 2015, the Paris Bread Festival (Fête du Pain) has been celebrating its…
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…
Statue of Liberty on the Île aux Cygnes, Paris
It is either visible from the top of the Eiffel Tower, from the Front-de-Seine or…
The first signs of Spring in France
“Les prémices du printemps” (the first signs of Spring). This is the perfect title for…
Our tips to enjoy Paris in the Spring
Millions of visitors visit Paris in the Summer. Little do they know that the French…
Fact of the Day: there are 200 religious buildings in Paris
Guess how many religious buildings are found in Paris… 200: this is the number of…
La Promenade Plantée, Paris
The Promenade plantée, also known as the Coulée verte René-Dumont, runs through the 12th arrondissement…
Snowdrops glimpsed in the Park of Maisons-Laffitte
A few days ago we walked early in the morning across the Park of Maisons-Laffitte and spotted…
Dramatic photos of the June 2016 Paris Floods
In May rainfall levels in Paris were the highest since 1873. Torrential rain caused catastrophic…
Île de France
The Île de France region is one of the ancient provinces of France, and the…
Top 10 Most Beautiful Bridges of Paris
No less than 37 bridges span the Seine, the river that separates the Left and…
Twentieth arrondissement of Paris
The 20th arrondissement is a cosmopolitan district of Paris located on the right bank and includes the world’s…
Madeleine Church, Paris
The Madeleine Church in the 8th arrondissement in Paris was designed as a temple to…
Our Instagram profile has gone berserk!
Last Thursday I walked on the rue Chanoinesse, one of my favourite places on the…
Discover the Montmartre Cemetery in Paris
The Montmartre Cemetery in the 18th arrondissement of Paris is the second largest operating cemetery of the…
Supporting the AFM-Téléthon in Maisons-Laffitte with ESUP
This morning as we walked to the town centre of Maisons-Laffitte we encountered the smiling and friendly…
The prestigious Hôtel des Invalides in Paris
At the centre of the 7th arrondissement on the Left Bank, the grand complex of…
It’s time for the Galette des Rois!
As soon as Christmas and New Year with its abundance of food and bûches are…
How the glass pyramid of the Louvre disappeared!
How the glass pyramid of the Louvre disappeared? The offender is French street artist JR who…
6 best places to stay in Paris
Paris is a beautiful patchwork quilt of enticing arrondissements, each one with its own reasons…
Beautiful photos of the Louvre at night
We published new photos of the Louvre taken at night on our flickr account. The…
Discover the old Ivry windmill near Paris
Ivry-sur-Seine does not rank amongst my favourite destinations in the Paris region. I knew of…
Paris-Plages 2015 is getting ready!
In three days, sand, deck chairs, palm trees will be back for the Paris-Plages event.…
Our top tips for walking in Paris
A lot of people we’ve met that are visiting Paris don’t necessarily come prepared. It…
This week’s Paris Walking Tour in Montmartre
This week we run a Paris Walking Tour in Montmartre, Paris on a beautiful sunny…
Colourful Spring Flowers in Maisons-Laffitte
In between rain showers we decided to venture outside and stroll in the beautiful park…
Rue Berton, Paris
There are a number of rural-looking streets to discover in Paris. One of them is…
The Lion of Belfort, Place Denfert-Rochereau, Paris
The Lion of Belfort is a bronze sculpture by Auguste Bartholdi situated at the middle…
Easter Day in Maisons-Laffitte
It’s Easter Day and it’s a time of celebration with all it represents! The message of the cross…
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…
The Historical Axis of Paris seen from the Louvre
Last Saturday morning our little Aimée (2 yo) and I visited the Louvre. I had…
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…
Eighteenth arrondissement of Paris
The Eighteenth arrondissement of Paris is located on the right bank and includes the famous hill of…
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…
Parc Monceau, Paris
Parc Monceau is one of the Parisians’ favourite public parks, situated in the wealthy 8th…
Paris Carnival
In Paris the carnival has a long story and can be traced back to the Middle-Ages. After a long hiatus…
Discover the castle of Saint-Germain-en-Laye
The castle of Saint-Germain-en-Laye is known as the Château-Vieux (Old Castle). It is closely linked to the history of…
Place de la Concorde early in the morning
Have you ever thought of visiting central Paris early in the morning when the masses of…
Île de la Cité, Paris
The ship-shaped island is the historical heart of Paris which was known as Lutetia (Lutèce) during…
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:…
Where to find the Berlin Wall in Paris
On the 9th November 1989, Germany and Europe commemorate the fall of the Berlin Wall.…
Top 10 Most Visited Museums in France
Here is the Top 10 list of the most visited museums in France, which are…
Sixteenth arrondissement of Paris
One of the most the most affluent and prestigious residential districts of Paris, the Sixteenth arrondissement…
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…
Spending the 8th May in Maisons-Laffitte
Today 8th May 2015 is a public holiday in France as the nation commemorates Victory…
Saint-Germain-des-Prés Neighbourhood
The quarter of Saint-Germain-des-Prés takes its name from the old Benedictine abbey founded in the…
Palais des Tuileries, Paris
The Tuileries Palace is the former residence of the Kings and Queens of France and was…
Video of the bridges of Paris
Watch our new photo video on Youtube dedicated to the banks and bridges of Paris!…
Seventh Arrondissement of Paris
The Seventh Arrondissement of Paris is home to some of the most famous landmarks of…
Palais-Royal, Paris
Despite its name, the Palais-Royal was not the official residence of the kings and queens…
Third Arrondissement of Paris
The Third arrondissement of Paris partly covers the historic district of Le Marais. It stretches from the…
Top 10 biggest rallies in Paris
Paris, the city of love and the city of light, has also been known for…
Top 10 Tallest Churches of Paris
Out of the hundreds of churches in Paris, which ones are the tallest? Maybe against…
A Summer morning spent in the Parc de Bercy, Paris
One of our favourite public gardens in Paris is the public Park of Bercy which stretches on…
Easter Egg Nest in France
In many European countries children decorate nests just before Easter. In Paris a traditional cake representing…
Top 10 panoramic views of Paris
Top 10 panoramic views of Paris: it is always exciting to discover a city from…
Summer in Paris: at the Eiffel Tower
Today we reached the French capital early in the morning, in search of Summer in Paris. At the Eiffel Tower we…
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 Most Beautiful Parks and Gardens of Paris
For some time we have been thinking about listing our favourite Parisian parks and gardens.…
Crazy about the Eiffel Tower
We are going crazy about the Eiffel Tower on our Flickr account! Let us tell…
Sweet sweet strawberries
BY RACHEL – This week was my daughter’s second birthday. What fun! We’re not doing…
Discover the Provins Medieval Christmas Market
I have two favourite sites when it comes to Christmas in the Seine-et-Marne département. These…
Discover the historic town of Saint-Germain-en-Laye
The historic city of Saint-Germain-en-Laye in the Yvelines département is famous for its royal castle and for being the birthplace of Louis…
Tourist board of Île de France: http://www.nouveau-paris-ile-de-france.fr
