Both the capital and largest city in France, Paris provides visitors with an excellent vantage point from which to study the sociology, politics, and economy of European cities. Once described as the Capital of Modernity (W. Benjamin), Paris is also one of the world’s leading business and cultural centers. Despite administrative limits largely unchanged since 1860, it is a dynamic world city usually ranked in the top-five of global cities for its high economic performance and its cultural influence. With 2 million residents and a metropolitan area of about 12 millions, Paris is a model case for global studies and urban sociology.