Paris, the cosmopolitan capital of France, is one of the largest agglomerations in Europe, with 2.2 million people living in the dense (105 km²) central city and almost 12 million people living in the metropolitan area. In the north of the country on the river Seine, Paris has the reputation of being the most beautiful and romantic of all cities, brimming with historic associations and remaining vastly influential in the realms of culture, art, fashion, food and design. Dubbed the
City of Light (
la Ville Lumière) and
Capital of Fashion, it is home to some of the world’s finest and most luxurious fashion designers and cosmetics, such as
Chanel,
Christian Dior,
Yves Saint-Laurent,
Guerlain,
Lancôme,
L’Oréal, and
Clarins. A large part of the city, including the River Seine, is a
UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city has the second highest number of Michelin-restaurants in the world (after Tokyo) and contains numerous iconic landmarks such as the
Eiffel Tower, the
Arc de Triomphe, the
Notre-Dame Cathedral, the
Louvre Museum,
Moulin Rouge,
Lido, making it one of the most popular international tourist destinations in the world, with around 14 million tourists annually.