Paris, the capital of France, is a major world metropolis and center for culture, art, fashion, gastronomy, and intellectual life.  The Seine river traverses the city; it's waterways, quays, and bridges are major thoroughfares but also ways to see the cities most famous monuments, such as the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre museum, and the Notre Dame cathedral.  The city is known for its cafes (one for every 200 inhabitants); its parks (Bois de Boulogne, Jardin de Luxembourg, Bois de Vincennes); its street life and markets, and as a magnet for immigration from around the world.