From the majestic Eiffel Tower to the heavenly Sacré Coeur, Paris is sure to enchant you. The city originated as a fishing village of the “Parisii,” a Celtic Tribe, at the end of the 3rd century BC. It then became a religious base during the Middle Ages, a distinguished center of ideas during the Renaissance and the Enlightenment, and a driving force of Western Culture by the 20th-century.

During your stay, you will fall in step with a million Parisians as you barter for fresh foods and flowers in the open air markets, window shop on the Champs-Élysées, stroll along the banks of the Seine, and learn how to cook a traditional French dish. You will even kick up your heels and learn to dance the French cancan!

Feast your eyes on the Mona Lisa and Winged Victory at the Louvre. Behold the powerful gothic architecture of Notre Dame, both during the day and from the deck of a luxurious night cruise. Amble beneath the imposing Arc de Triomphe as you stand safely in the center of an outrageous roundabout.

Whether picturing the historical Allied invasion in Normandy, catching a few reflections in Versailles’ Hall of Mirrors, or treating yourself to the splendor of the Loire Valley, our eye-opening excursions outside of Paris give you a broader view of the historical and cultural influences that have shaped France.

Vincent Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Richard Wagner, and Victor Hugo are just some of this magical city’s famous residents. According to Thomas Jefferson, Paris is “everybody’s second home.” Take a closer look as you Focus on Paris, and you too will find your second home.