Paris is one of the most exciting capitals in Europe - a Mecca

for artists, a center for intellectuals and academics, and a stage

for the flâneur. This volume acts as a companion to the

metropolis on the Seine through its eventful history and the

buzz of the present day, from the Lutetia of antiquity through

the era of the great kings and revolutions to the 21st century

with its stunning architectural projects. There are plenty of

digressions along the way, providing insights into the city's

historical turning points, telling the stories of its most famous

residents and illuminating the background to the

"City of Light."