Paris Districts And Attractions

Paris is a very large city comprised of several districts and nieghborhoods.  Its a good idea to get to know them on a map before you venture out to areas like; Opera and Montmartre, Left Bank & Montparnasse, Etoile and Chaillot, Bastille and Bercy, Les Halles & The Marais, and Eiffel Tower & Les Invalides.  We've got a map of the districts to help you as well.

Paris Hotels Opera and Montmartre

Located in districts 9, 10, and 18, just a walk up the rue de la Paix will lead you to the magnificent Opera building which dates from 1875. The boulevard des Italiens has long been a favourite of the cafe society. The boulevard Haussmann is home to the most famous of all Paris department stores - Galleries Lafayette and Printemps. The Quartier du Temple is a good area for nightlife and cheap shopping. Montmartre is very much a little village of its own, and the "village centre" of the Place du Tertre is thronged by pavement artists. Pigalle at the foot of Montmartre, has long been associated with the Moulin Rouge cabaret. There is, however, a seedier side to Pigalle, which may not be to everybody's taste.

Paris Hotels Left Bank & Montparnasse

The Left Bank (Latin Quarter) located in districts 5, 6, 13, and 14 of Paris has always had a certain aura - a haven for the bohemians and intellectuals. The fountain in Place St Michel is the meeting place, always thronged with people. Heading south, down the steep rue de Mouffetard, you will find a number of eating places and a busy market. To the East, the Jardin des Plantes offers a wealth of interest. The Museum of Natural History is also here. To the West of Saint Michel is St-Germain-des-Pres. The side streets are filled with antique shops, hotels, book stalls, interior design shops and some of the best fashions. Spreading westwards to Sevres Babylone and South along the rue de Rennes to Montparnasse are some of the most concentrated shopping areas in Paris. The area around Montparnasse features numerous bars and restaurants frequented by Parisian artists.

Etoile and Chaillot

Located in districts 8, 16, and 17, the Eternally popular Arc de Triomphe (the 8th district) is a Paris focal point. You will find haute couture stores on the avenue Victor Hugo. The Bois de Boulogne is immensely popular with Parisians. The sweep of the Champs Elysees leads down to the Rond Point, intersecting the avenues Montaigne and Matignon, continuing to the Place de la Concorde, with its obelisk from the Temple of Luxor. The rue du Faubourg St Honore and the 17th century Place Vendome are famous for haute couture and jewelry and perfumes respectively.

Bastille and Bercy

Just Eastwards from the Marais is Bastille in distyricts 11 & 12 is the site of protest in the 1789, 1830 and 1848 revolutions and now home to the new Opera House. Today, it is the breeding ground for new artistic talent in Paris and the area surrounding it, the Faubourg St Antoine, is full of galleries and shops. The 12th arrondissement's contribution to the new Parisian monuments is the glass-sided Palais des Omnisports at Bercy. The Bois de Vincennes is a smaller version of the Bois de Boulogne, and is home to France's largest zoo.

Les Halles & The Marais

Chatelet and Les Halles in districts 3 & 4 are full of life day and night. The square and nearby Place du Chatelet are bordered by cafes, nightclubs and restaurants. The glass-domed Forum des Halles houses a good selection of shops. The Pompidou Center is famed for its architectural design. To the East lies the busy Place de la Republique which remains lively both day and night, with a good variety of brasseries and restaurants. The narrow rue des -Bourgeois is ideal for window-shopping; there is a wonderful array of home interior shops, designer boutiques and galleries standing alongside elegant Renaissance-style houses, now museums or libraries.

Eiffel Tower & Les Invalides

Spanning the Seine to the South West is the Pont d'lena in districts 7 & 15, with the Palais de Chaillot at Trocadero opposite the Eiffel Tower. A trip to the Tower's third floor is rewarded by fantastic views of the city on a clear day. The 7th arrondissement is home to the embassies and government departments. Nearby is the Musee Rodin, in a beautiful 18th century mansion. The converted railway station on the Quai d'Orsay houses a fine collection of Impressionist paintings. In the midst of these imposing buildings, the rue Dominique has a number of degriffe shops (designer labels at off-the-peg prices) and the rue Cler has the best market shopping in Paris.