Often simply called the Paris region, Île-de-France is one of France's 18 regions, overseas regions included. It surrounds Paris, its capital city.
For most people, Île-de-France simply means Paris. The French capital is famous all over the world, and the region is the most visited tourist destination on the planet. It is also the historic heart of the country, with a very rich heritage. Paris, the City of Light, is the main attraction. Its buildings, put up over many centuries, give the city its beauty. There are plenty of museums to visit: the Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay, the Centre Pompidou, the Musée de Cluny, the Musée Picasso and the Quai Branly museum. Must-see landmarks include the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, Notre-Dame de Paris and the Sacré-Cœur in Montmartre.
There is much more to the region than Paris. You will also find castles, old abbeys, royal towns, parks and gardens, and forests and lakes where you can relax. Here are a few places not to miss. The Palace of Versailles and its gardens. The Château de Fontainebleau, a masterpiece of French art. Vaux-le-Vicomte and its park designed by Le Nôtre. The Basilica of Saint-Denis, burial place of the kings of France. Provins, a medieval town with huge ramparts. Royaumont Abbey, the royal town of Saint-Germain-en-Laye and the Château de Courances with its Renaissance water garden. And finally Auvers-sur-Oise, the village of the Impressionist painters.
