Image: Notre Dame attracted 13.6 million visitors

Paris' Notre Dame Cathedral was the French city's most popular tourist attraction during 2011 with 13.6 million visitors, according to the Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Sacré-Coeur Basilica and the Louvre also featured among the most visited, welcoming 10.5 million people and 8.9 million people respectively over the course of last year.

Meanwhile, the landmark Eiffel Tower attracted 7.1 million visitors at the Pompidou Centre received 3.6 million visitors - a 15.4 per cent increase on 2010's figures.

Other locations to report visitor number growth included Orsay Museum (3.1 million, +5.3 per cent) and the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle (2.1 million visitors, +5.9 per cent).

• Meanwhile, the Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau has unveiled a new list of 12 points underlining how Paris will retain its tourist appeal despite ongoing economic uncertainty.

According to the organisation, tourists from emerging markets and the launch of new tourist facilities and attractions in the coming years will boost the French capital's tourism sector.

The city is also expecting to benefit from London 2012, with the Bureau claiming that high prices and increased visitor numbers may discourage tourism to the UK capital.

Details: www.parisinfo.com (2011 Visitor Numbers, FRA)
Details: www.parisinfo.com (12 Plus Points for Paris Tourism, ENG)

Image: Pline/shutterstock.com