Most tourist guides describe Paris, building by building, monument by monument: this book attempts to present it as a unified whole. What gives Paris its unique character, the special atmosphere of its streets ? Why is this city considered, in itself, one of the wonders of the world?

As targets for your visit, the author has selected twelve of the city's most appealing places of interest -- all absolutely unique to Paris and chosen to convince you that there is no other city like it. Paris is an ongoing collective enterprise: a vast amalgam of accumulated knowledge. As well as highlighting the ideas and the genius that have made Paris what it is, the book points out where mistakes have been made and how fate has played a hand in its overall development.

The four guided bus tours will take you around these twelve key locations and, should you wish, plenty, of other places of interest -- all unmistakably Parisian.