The first thing you need to realise is that while all European languages have definite and indefinite articles, they don't all use them in the same way. A rule that you've learnt for English ( "I like sport" , "I like France" and "I like Paris" = no articles) can't necessarily be applied to French or German. And where they're different, they're not necessarily different in a consistent or logical way, as you see here. Yes, we have to say "J'aime le sport" , "J'aime la France" (with definite articles) but "J'aime Paris" (no article). You simply have to learn which types of words take articles and which don't. Here are some rules about place names: Names of countries have to include an article, depending on the gender of the country in question, for example, la France (f) le Canada (m) or les Pays-Bas (m.pl). Names of continents, regions and departments also take definite articles. However, with a few exceptions ( such as Le Havre), names of towns and cities don't have articles. Paris is just Paris. No article. "J'aime Paris". Poor Paris. She needs all the love she can get at the moment. :(

Most cities do not require the definite article, "le" or "la" before their name, but there are a few exceptions, Le Caire (Cairo), La Havane (Havana), and La Haye (the Hague) come to mind.