PARIS BY ARRONDISSEMENT
Paris, though a small city, (where you can get anywhere in about 20mins) is made up of 20 arrondissements, or neighbourhoods, starting with the 1st arrondissement in the centre of Paris, and spiralling out to the 20th arrondissement in the east of Paris, a structure put in place by Napoleon III in 1860.
Each area is different, each arrondissement is uniquely attractive and here’s a useful guide to help you choose the area of Paris you’d like to stay in with Paris Rental Connections.
1st Arrondissement of Paris
Being the first arrondissement, this is the most central, and is situated on the right bank of the Seine and is home to famous landmarks such as the Louvre, one of the largest museums in the world and THE most visited museum in the world. This area is also great for avid shoppers thanks to the gorgeous designer boutique lined Rue Saint Honore, bling bling Place Vendome and trendy Rue Etienne Marcel. A stunning area to stay in with most sites at walking distance.
Other recommended sites in this area include:
The Tuilerie Gardens
Musée de l'Orangerie - large collection of Impressionist paintings
Jeu de Paume - exhibition Space
Palais Royal
Comedie Francaise - the National Theatre of France
Pont Neuf - oldest bridge of Paris with stunning views
Place de la Concorde - best seen at nighttime
2nd Arrondissement of Paris
Just north of the Louvre is the 2nd neighbourhood of Paris which is primarily Paris’ central business district, housing ‘Bourse’, the Paris Stock Market, and the headquarters of various banks and companies within majestic Haussmanian buildings. For a wonderfully Parisian experience, the market, cafes and restaurants of bustling Rue Montorgueil are a must! ‘Les Passages’ in this area, which date from the 19th Century, are certainly worth seeing with their charming shops, restaurants and boutiques.
Other recommended sites in this area include:
Les Passage de Paris - Galerie Vivienne, Galerie Colbert and Passage du Grand Cerf
Japanese restaurants of Rue St. Anne
Bibliotheque Nationale
3rd Arrondissement of Paris
To the east of the 2nd arrondissement, you’ll find the 3rd district of Paris, the 12th century home of the European base of the Knights Templar. Making up the north of the enchanting Marais area, this neighbourhood is characterised by medieval buildings and streets, containing the oldest building in the city, dating back to 1407, at 51 rue Montmorency. Another of Paris’ oldest streets is Rue au Maire. Here you will also find the Museum of Paris at Musée Carnavalet, previously the grand home of Madame de Sévigné, an aristocrat, famous for her letters which revealed life in 17th Century France. This is the quieter half of the Marais and home to many wonderful little trendy boutiques, cafes and restaurants - Rue de Bretagne is perfect for cafe hopping and people watching and is also the location of the oldest market in Paris, Le Marche des Enfants Rouges. It is a lovely area for a more quaint stay in central Paris while remaining close to the city’s major attractions.
***Image of Marche des Enfants Rouge ***
Other recommended sites in this area include:
Centre Pompidou - modern art museum
Musée Carnavalet - Museum of the History of Paris
Archives Nationales - the French History Museum
Musée des Arts et Metiers - Museum of Science and Technology
Musée Picasso
Le Marche des Enfants Rouge - fantastic world food market and eaterie
Square du Temple Gardens
4th Arrondissement of Paris
The heart of the marvellous Marais district, the 4th neighbourhood of Paris is ‘where it’s at’. If you are looking for enchanting medieval streets, fashionable bars, high end boutiques, cozy restaurants and cool cafes where the beautiful people of Paris effortlessly pose, then this is the area for you! A lively area,
you’ll taste the best falafels in Paris in the Jewish Quarter and dance the night away in the numerous bars in the area popular with the local gay community. Historically speaking, this area is crammed full of stunning 17th century "Hotel Particuliers" (mansions where Paris’ nobility once resided) and to top it off is also where you’ll find Notre Dame Cathedral on Ile de la Cité. A wonderfully picturesque and convenient are a to stay in that will capture your heart.
Other recommended sites in this area include:
Ile de la Cité - one of the islands in the Seine and oldest part of Paris
Place des Vosges - beautiful 17th Century gardens
Rue des Francs Bourgeois - for great shopping
Rue de Rosiers - for the best falafels and Jewish delis
5th Arrondissement of Paris
Known as the Latin Quarter, this is predominantly a neighborhood that caters for students, due to the number of well known academic institutions located here, such as the world famous Sorbonne. It is called the Latin Quarter because Latin was the prominent language spoken by the students in this academic region in medieval times. Characterised by medieval architecture, the charming cobbled streets and winding narrow passages are a pleasure to get lost in. Rue Mouffetard is one such street, a popular haunt, recommended for an idle wander, after which a walk in Le Jardin des Plantes (Paris’ zoo and botanical gardens) is very pleasant and a great trip out for the kids.
Other recommended sites in this area include:
Institut du Monde Arabe
Pantheon
Musée National d’Histoire Naturelle
Mosquée de Paris - Europe’s 3rd largest mosque, whose grounds include tea rooms, restaurant and hammam – worth a visit!
6th Arrondissement of Paris
The headquarters of the Existentialists, the 6th district was the gathering centre of Paris’ intellects, thinkers and philosophers of the last two centuries, such as Jean Paul Sartre, Ernest Hemingway and Oscar Wilde. They frequented cafes such as Café Flore, La Rotonde, La Coupole and Les Deux Magots, which one can still visit today, located on Boulevard Montparnasse and Boulevard Saint Germain. Globally, this area is one of the most expensive areas to live in thanks to its superb examples of both medieval and 19th century pristinely preserved architecture, not to mention the high end boutiques, cafes, bars and restaurants on and around Boulevard Saint Germain and the stunning Jardin du Luxembourg palatial gardens. There is also a perfectly Parisian market here on rue de Buci and Paris’ oldest department store, Bon Marché. An exclusive address to say the very least, located right in the centre of Paris, on the Left Bank of the Seine.
Other recommended sites in this area include:
Le Bon Marché – Paris’ first department store dating from mid 19th Century
Pont des Arts – Paris’ most romantic bridge, including fantastic views
Eglise Saint Sulpice – made famous by the Da Vinci Code
Rue de Rennes – for good high street shopping and a cheaper alternative to Boulevard Saint Germain
Hotel des Monnaies – where they make the medals of the Legion d’honneur
Institut de France – where the rules of the French language are determined
7th Arrondissement of Paris
Home to the Eiffel Tower and the administrative institutions of France, this is certainly one of the grandest districts of Paris and dwelling of the old-money-bourgeoisie. The grand Haussmanian buildings impose upon you as you strut your way up the wide and immaculate boulevards and streets of this arrondissement like rue St-Dominique, alongside its fur coat clad residents, flanked by their miniature leashed companions. The 7th is a great spot for sightseeing, bestowing the famous Musée d’Orsay, Assemblee National, Hotel des Invalides (the burial place of Napoleon Bonaparte), and of course the Eiffel Tower. It’s a prestigiously pleasant area; quiet, spotless and elegant.
Other recommended sites in this area include:
Musée Rodin
Musée de Quai Branly
Champ de Mars
Ecole Militaire
8th Arrondissement of Paris
The district with three of the most famous symbols of France – Avenue des Champs Elysees, Arc de Triomphe and … Nicholas Sarkozy! Yes, he lives in the 8th in the beautiful Palais de l’Elysées. This neighbourhood is made up of upper class residential dwellings juxtaposed with office space of numerous corporate multinational companies, all in a Haussman designed backdrop, creating an elegant and tame district. At nighttime the bars and clubs on the streets which shoot off the Champs Elysées become the playground for Paris’ young wealthy crowd. For a quiet escape in the 8th, head to the graceful golden gated Parc Monceau and if you’re a museum fan, feel spoilt by the grandiose structures of the Grand Palais and Petit Palais ,which precede the most beautiful bridge of Paris, Pont Alexandre III.
Other recommended sites in this area include:
Place de la Madeleine
Pinacotheque de Paris - art gallery
Place de la Concorde
Rue Faubourg Saint Honore – designer shopping heaven!
Unofficial Princess Diana Memorial at Alma Marceau – the flame above the sight of her tragic accident
9th Arrondissement of Paris
A fashionable area at the foot of Montmartre, it’s a light hearted, easy going area frequented by a young trendy crowd as well as maintaining a residential family feel. Probably what most people know the 9th for, apart from its grand centerpiece, Opéra Garnier opera house, are the department stores Printemps and Galeries Lafayette and high street shops that line Boulevard Haussman, making this area the most popular place to shop in Paris. A lovely quaint part is Rue des Martyrs, full of little boutiques, great boulangeries and a fabulous market – perfect for a lazy stroll, at the end of which you’ll stumble upon the fabulous Montmartre.
Other recommended sites in this area include:
Musée Grevin – wax museum
Eglise Sainte Trinité
Eglise Notre Dame de Lorette
10th Arrondissement
10th Arrondissement of Paris
This northern district of Paris is the one that welcomes many of Paris’ tourists, as it’s home to Gare du Nord and Gare de l’Est. It’s one of Paris’ most multicultural areas and has fast become a ‘bobo’ (bohemian-bourgeoisie) neighbourhood thanks to the trendy, alternative cafes, bars, restaurants and boutiques which line Canal Saint Martin, the symbol of the 10th. Canal Saint Martin, made famous by the film ‘Le Fabuleux destin d’Amélie Poulin’, is a wonderful spot during the summer, where one can laze by the canal with friends and watch the ‘très cool’ Parisians stroll by. It’s also closed off to traffic at the weekends - perfect for joggers and cyclists!
Other recommended sites in this area include:
Chez Prune - a great bar/restaurant for ‘bobo’ spotting
Jardin Villemin - a grassed park off Canal Saint Martin, great for sun bathing and picnicking
Passage Brady - a passage to India, full of exotic restaurants, barbers and Indian material shops
Place de la République - a large square beholding the monument of the Republic of France
11th Arrondissement of Paris
Moving into eastern Paris, on the border of the Marais, lies the 11th. This is a predominantly young area, hosting a very lively nightlife in the areas around Bastille and Oberkampf. Historically speaking, this area marks a pivotal moment in French history - the storming of the Bastille which took place on 14th July 1789 - a decisive moment in the French Revolution, where the citizens took the power and destroyed the Bastille prison. Today a commemorative monument replaces the site of the prison.
Other recommended sites in this area include:
Marché Bastille - a great fruit, vegetable and clothing market
Opéra Bastille - the beautiful modern opera house of Paris
12th Arrondissement of Paris
Lining the east section of the Seine’s right bank, we have the 12th district. This is a residential area home to the family demographic and furthermore to Bois de Vincennes, the ‘right lung of Paris’. For those who know London’s Hyde Park, Bois de Vincennes is 3 times the size, including large grassed areas and a lake, wonderful for picnics and a kick around. The park also contains the Chateau de Vincennes, which used to be home to 14th Century Kings. Another green strip is the Promenade Plantée, a narrow planted path that used to be a 19th century railway viaduct running above street level, over the buildings - quite an alternative walk in Paris.
Other recommended sites in this area include:
Gare de Lyon
Bercy - One of Paris’ largest concert venues
Le Parc de Bercy
13th Arrondissement of Paris
South east of the Seine you’ll find the 13th, a residential area and home to Paris’ main Chinatown. Nestled within the 13th is Butte aux Cailles, the ‘village’ of the area which is multicultural , popular with the young, trendy types with local bars and restaurants to match. You’ll notice that the architecture is very different here, almost with a countryside feel. It’s a very diverse and interesting area to walk around. In the summer time, Piscine Josephine Baker, an outdoor floating public swimming pool on the Seine, is a fantastic place to cool off, with space to sunbathe and gaze over the river.
Other recommended sites in this area include:
Biblioteque Francois Mitterand - the National Library of France and architectural wonder
Passerelle Simone de Beauvoir - Paris’ most modern bridge, pedestrianised with good views
14th Arrondissement of Paris
On the southern border of the 6th, you’ll find the quiet 14th neighbourhood of Paris. This area contains two large cemeteries and even one underground - the Catacombs of Paris! Opened in the late 18th century, it contains the bones of millions, including those who were killed during the French Revolution and even notable figures such as Robespierre. It’s kilometres long and runs underneath the streets of the 14th in the old mines of Paris. For a lighter spot to visit, Parc Montsouris is a lovely English style park.
Other recommended sites in this area include:
Fondation Cartier pour l’Art Contemporain - modern art gallery
15th Arrondissement of Paris
This is a very pleasant residential area of Paris, inhabited by young couples and families. It shares borders with the 6th, 7th and 14th neighbourhoods and is one of the largest districts of Paris. It is home to the Head Quarters of UNESCO and also the resting place of Louis Pasteur - he is in fact buried underneath the university, Institut Pasteur, where he lies in a grand tomb. For a wonderful view, head to Pont Mirabeau,from where you have a spectacular view of the Statue of Liberty (erected in 1889) in in front of the Eiffel Tower.
16th Arrondissement of Paris
An upper class and beautiful district of Paris, this is home to the wealthy and conservative slice of Parisian society and certainly has a very typically Parisian feel to it. The buildings here are impressive and stately and you’ll often be in awe as you walk around this quiet, elegant area. The buildings aren’t the only thing to look at - the home of Balzac, the wine museum, Bois de Boulogne and the spectacular view from Place du Trocadero giving you a view of the Eiffel Tower and the Paris skyline, give you plenty to see and do. A very stylish, very seductively Parisian area.
Other recommended sites in this area include:
Musée Marmottan - Impressionist art gallery
Musée de l’Homme - part of the Natural History Museum
Musée de la Marine - the Aquarium of Paris
Palais de Tokyo - modern art gallery
17th Arrondissement of Paris
The 17th neighbourhood is also one of Paris’ more expensive areas in which to reside, and it’s no wonder. Starting at the world famous Arc de Triomphe, the 17th’s handsome boulevards shoot off this centre point, to provide the elite with gated Haussmanian accommodation and a royal park to match (Parc Monceau which borders the 8th and 17th). This area, despite it’s upper class crust also has another side to it, the charming and trendy bohemian area of Batignolles, a village like area full of quaint spots such as Eglise des Batignolles, and Square des Batignolles, hosting all amenities and a quieter provincial way of life.
Other recommended sites in this area include:
Marché des Batignolles - organic market
Palais des Congrès - concert hall/stadium
Square des Batignolles - a park and play area with duck ponds
18th Arrondissement of Paris
The 18th is where you’ll find the world reknowned Montmartre and it’s beautiful basilica, Sacre Coeur. A stunning and charming region of Paris positioned on a hill, you’ll have fun climbing the stairs of Montmartre, admiring the incredible views over Paris. Made famous by the film ‘Le Fabuleux destin d’Amélie Poulin’ and historically, by the presence of the Impressionists, Montmartre never seizes to amaze and attracts tourists year after year. The delightful thing about this area is that you can escape the crowds and stumble into the village like community, where everyone knows each other, visit the vineyards in Montmartre and take a moment away from the bustle of Paris as you gaze over it. Beautiful.
Other recommended sites in this area include:
Sacre Coeur - basilica on the highest peak of Paris
Pigalle - the cabaret district
The Moulin Rouge - historically famous cabaret venue
Rue des Abbesses - great for shopping, bars and restaurants
La Moulin de la Galette - the last remaining windmill of Paris
Eglise Saint Jean de Montmartre - stunning Art Nouveau church
Dali Museum
Place du Tertre
19th Arrondissement of Paris
This north eastern neighbourhood is home to two canals - Canal Saint Denis and Canal Ourq which cuts through the area and is a spot to catch some rays and a coffee in summer . These canals run along one of the parks here called Parc de la Villete, a very large, grassed park which includes various music venues and every summer hosts a wonderful outdoor cinema and jazz festival. The other large park here is Parc des Buttes Chaumont - a lovely picturesque and hilly park with a Corinthian style monument at the peak of the hill, hosting great views at sunset.
Other recommended sites in this area include:
Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie - museum and exhibition centre
20th Arrondissement of Paris
Bordering on the 11th and 19th neighbourhoods, this is home to the second largest Chinatown in Paris, in Belleville. The 20th is a large district, with a diverse population and an ‘up and coming’ feel and is most famous for the cemetery Père Lachaise. Paris’ largest cemetery and possibly the world’s most famous, this is the resting place of many well known icons such as Jim Morrison, Maria Callas, Oscar Wilde, Proust, Delacroix, Chopin, Proust, Balzac and Edith Piaf. Edith Piaf was also born in this area, abandoned by her mother on the steps of 72 rue de Belleville.
Other recommended sites in this area include:
La Flèche d’Or - now a concert venue but previously a station on the old peripheral Paris railway
Mama Shelter - a Phillipe Stark designed boutique hotel alongside the old railway
References:
Wikipedia.com
SecretsofParis.com
