Paris – ‘the City of Love’ – truly deserves its reputation as the most romantic city in the world. Ever since Baron Hausmann began designing its magnificent boulevards in 1870, the lure of Paris has been a constant force for anyone seeking beauty, passion and romance. Paris is split into two halves by the Seine. The Right Bank (rive droite) features grand boulevards and monumental buildings, the best museums and the city’s chicest shops around Les Halles. The Left Bank (rive gauche) meanwhile is synonymous with Bohemian, intellectual pursuits, a spirit that survives in the bars and restaurants around St-Germain. However well you think you know Paris, there are always new parts to discover within its village-like quarters, and its small centre is ideal for visiting on foot, with every turn revealing a famous landmark, a cosy café, a smart boutique or a busy boulevard. Paris is particularly beautiful in spring when the trees along the Seine begin to blossom and the city livens up after winter. It’s also fun to visit on France's national day, 14 July, when the storming of the Bastille prison is commemorated with a massive fireworks display and throngs of people take to the streets.