Skip to main content
toastmaster-white

March 2024
View PDF

Paris Awaits!


Image of Paris cityscape

From August 5-8, the 2020 Toastmasters International Convention will be in Paris, France, and now is the time to start planning! While the city is full of some of the most iconic sites in the world, it also has plenty of other exciting attributes. We’ve rounded up some fast facts about this fascinating city to help you get excited.

  • The city is home to 2.14 million people, yet it covers a land area of only 105 sq. km/41 sq. mi. People who are relatively active can cross the entire city in around two hours.
  • Paris is home to 130 museums, ranging from the famous art ones (Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Centre Pompidou) to lesser-known ones, such as the Musée Curie and the Musée Pasteur (medicine), the Musée de Cluny (archeology), and the Cabinet des Medailles (history).
  • Bring an appetite. There are nearly 44,000 restaurants in Paris, ranging from casual brasseries to some of the best (and priciest) eateries in the world. Additionally, there are approximately 30,000 bakeries in Paris, with crusty baguettes and mouthwatering pastries. And of course, no visit would be complete without spending time leisurely sipping a small cup of espresso or café au lait at a Paris café.
  • The Pont Neuf (ironically, “New Bridge”) is the oldest of the 37 bridges that span the Seine River. It was completed in 1607 and connects the small island of Île de la Cité to the rest of the city.
  • There’s only one stop sign in Paris. Otherwise, Parisians adhere to the rule of priorit droite, which means drivers approaching an intersection from the right get the right of way.
  • Paris is nicknamed the City of Light, referring to the high concentration of intellectuals, such as writers, artists, scientists, and academics, who are drawn to the city.
  • The obelisk (a large Egyptian column) in the center of the Place de la Concorde also functions as a giant sundial. There are Roman numerals on the pavement, and throughout the day, the shadow of the obelisk reveals the time.

Ready to make plans? Register here.


Share this article
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn Share with email

Related Articles

Versailles near Paris, France

News from Toastmasters International

Paris Awaits!

LEARN MORE

Learn more about the award-winning publication.

About Magazine

Discover more about the award-winning publication.

Magazine FAQ

Answers to your common magazine questions.

Submissions

How to submit an article query, photo, or story idea.

Staff

Meet the editorial team.