
What is an arrondissement in Paris?
The Paris map shows the 20 different neighborhoods which are called arrondissements. In Paris arrondissements are named according to their number, which corresponds to an administrative district. For example, you might live in the 5th arrondissement, which would be written as 5ème (or 5e) in French.
What will happen to the four arrondissements of Paris?
In 2020 the central four arrondissements of Paris become one. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo’s plan is motivated by her desire to make the arrondissements more equal in terms of the size of the population they serve. For example, while the 1st Arrondissement is home to just 17,000 residents, Paris 15 can count 240,000.
How many districts are there in Paris?
Each of the 20 Paris districts has its own unique identity and personality, popular attractions, special events, and other interesting things to do and see. Those with lower numbers form the center of the city and contain most of the top historic attractions and not surprisingly, many tourists.

Why is Paris divided into arrondissements?
It was in 1860 under Napoleon III that Paris grew to 20 arrondissements, when the city 's territory was expanded to include territory outside the old limits. The previous 12 arrondissements were all rearranged to give us the city's current layout. What's with the snail shell shape?
What does arrondissement mean in Paris?
an administrative districtDefinition of arrondissement 1 : an administrative district of some large French cities. 2 : the largest division of a French department.
Do all French cities have arrondissements?
General characteristics. There are 45 municipal arrondissements in France: 20 in Paris (see: Arrondissements of Paris), nine in Lyon (see: Arrondissements of Lyon), and 16 in Marseille. However, a law in 1987 assigned the 16 arrondissements of Marseille to eight secteurs ("areas"), two arrondissements per secteur.
How many districts are in Paris?
20 districtsOriginally, Paris was divided into four parts, hence the name of "neighborhoods". Today they are 80 administrative districts that Paris is divided into 20 districts that comprise it.
What is the richest part of Paris?
Just across the river Seine, a neighborhood named after a French philosopher, Saint-Thomas d'Aquin, is the richest neighborhood in Paris. The left bank neighborhood includes beautiful streets such as Rue du Bac, Rue de Verneuil, and rue de Grenelle.
What is the nicest arrondissement in Paris?
9 best arrondissements to stay in Paris for any kind of traveler1st arrondissement (Louvre)7th arrondissement (Palais-Bourbon)5th arrondissement (Panthéon)8th arrondissement (Élysée)4th arrondissement (Hôtel-de-Ville)18th arrondissement (Butte-Montmartre)9th arrondissement (Opéra)6th arrondissement (Luxembourg)More items...•
What is downtown Paris called?
La Défense (French: [la de. fɑ̃s]) is a major business district located 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) west of the city limits of Paris. It is part of the Paris metropolitan area in the Île-de-France region, located in the department of Hauts-de-Seine in the communes of Courbevoie, La Garenne-Colombes, Nanterre, and Puteaux.
What is each arrondissement known for?
The arrondissements of Paris divide and, in a sense, define the city. These urban administrative districts each have a distinct character. Nonetheless, in each of them you find those iconic Parisian elements — shops, history, food, and the quartiers (neighborhoods) where Parisians live.
What is the oldest part of Paris?
Ve arrondissementHistory. The Ve arrondissement is the oldest arrondissement in Paris, and was first built by the Romans. The construction of the Roman town Lutetia dates back from the 1st century BC, which was built after the conquest of the Gaulish site, situated on the île de la Cité by the Romans.
What is the most famous street in Paris called?
Champs-ÉlyséesChamps-Élysées, officially Avenue des Champs-Élysées (French: “Avenue of the Elysian Fields”), broad avenue in Paris, one of the world's most famous, which stretches 1.17 miles (1.88 km) from the Arc de Triomphe to the Place de la Concorde.
How big is the City of Paris?
40.7 mi²Paris / Area
Why is Paris in a circle?
The word arrondissement comes from the French verb arrondir (to encircle). The arrondissements are numbered in a 'snail shell' shape. Paris chose this spiral pattern when the districts were increased from 12 to 20.
What is the English translation of arrondissement?
districtThe official translation into English is "district".
What is each arrondissement known for?
The arrondissements of Paris divide and, in a sense, define the city. These urban administrative districts each have a distinct character. Nonetheless, in each of them you find those iconic Parisian elements — shops, history, food, and the quartiers (neighborhoods) where Parisians live.
What arrondissement is the Eiffel Tower?
7th arrondissementThe Eiffel Tower is located on the Champs de Mars at 5 Avenue Anatole France in the 7th arrondissement of Paris. The symbolic monument in the heart of Paris can be spotted from a distance and is easily identifiable.
What arrondissement is Louvre?
the 1st arrondissementOnce the haunt of France's kings and emperors, the 1st arrondissement is the royal heart of Paris. Strolling along the formal Tuileries Gardens, it's hard not to be swept away by the pomp and grandeur of the sumptuous palaces. This regal setting is home to the Musée du Louvre, the largest museum in the world.
A few facts about the arrondissements of Paris
The City of Paris comprises twenty administrative districts. Parisians call them “arrondissements”.
What to do in Paris?
Here’s a list of activities (tours, monuments, museums, cruises) that you can find on our partner’s GetYourGuide site:
Discover the 20 arrondissements of Paris
Click on the links below to reach the dedicated page for each arrondissement:
Romantic Paris!
Love the romance of Paris? Check out my new eBook: “ ROMANTIC PARIS: A Photographic Journey “!
How many arrondissements are there in Paris?
What are Paris arrondissements? Arrondissements are administrative districts. While the City of Paris contains 20 arrondissements numbered 1 through 20 within its borders, the first four are bundled into a single district called "Paris Centre," making a total of 17 administrative districts.
How many districts are there in Paris?
Each of the 20 Paris districts has its own unique identity and personality, popular attractions, special events, and other interesting things to do and see. Those with lower numbers form the center of the city and contain most of the top historic attractions and not surprisingly, many tourists. Arrondissements with higher numbers spiral out ...
Why is the 4th arrondissement important?
Why visit: The 4th Arrondissement is "must see" area for first time and return visitors. So many famous historic sites and top attractions are located here - plus the medieval Marais neighborhood offers some of the best shopping in Paris.
What is the heart of Paris?
Île de la Cité, the historic heart of the city includes parts of the 1st and 4th arrondissements. This is where the area's first settlers, a Celtic tribe called the Parisii, made their home over 2,300 years ago. It is also where you'll find some of the city's most famous attractions.
Where is the Upper Marais in Paris?
Upper Marais in Paris's 3rd Arrondissement - Rue du Parc Royal and Square Léopold-Achille, near the Picasso Museum. Why visit: Known as the Haut ("Upper") Marais, the 3rd Arrondissement gives you a glimpse of medieval Paris plus plenty of ornate 17th century mansions, popular museums, and fashion boutiques.
What river divides Paris?
The blue line of the Seine River divides the city into the Right Bank (above the river) and the Left Bank below it. In the middle of the Seine are two small islands, Île de la Cité and Île Saint-Louis. Île de la Cité, the historic heart of the city includes parts of the 1st and 4th arrondissements.
Where to visit in Paris?
Visit: Île de la Cité, the tiny Island in the Seine River straddling the 1st and 4th arrondissements where you'll find the historic heart of Paris, medieval masterpieces, hidden gardens, and lots more.
What is the arrondissement in Paris?
Arrondissement is a French term that refers to a district and administrative unit of Paris. The city is divided into 20 of these, beginning with the 1st arrondissement at the city center and spiraling out-- in clockwise fashion-- to the 20th and final district in the northeast. See the map above to visualize how they're laid out, ...
What is the difference between arrondissements and neighborhoods?
The Difference Between "Arrondissements" and "Neighborhoods". While some arrondissements correspond to single, well-known neighborhoods -- for example, the 5th arrondissement wholly covers the popular district known as the Latin Quarter- - some neighborhoods, like the Marais, comprise two or more arrondissements.
What are the main attractions in the 7th and 8th arrondissement?
Meanwhile, the 7th and 8th arrondissements stretch across the left and right banks and bring you to attractions such as the Eiffel Tower, the Musée d'Orsay (both in the 7th), the Avenue des Champs-Elysées, Grand Palais and the Arc de Triomphe (all in the 8th). This is a traditional, decidedly tourism-focused side of Paris with posh residential streets, but many locals consider it to be less authentic and rather staid.
What is the postcode of the Louvre?
Shakespeare and Company, the famous English-language bookshop, is located in the 5th arrondissement; its postcode is 75005.
How to see Paris?
You can also see Paris via hop-on, hop-off tour buses, or take a commented cruise down the Seine river. These are great options when you want to get a good overview of the city, particularly on a first trip.
What is the 1st arrondissement?
The 1st arrondissement harbors a number of major tourist attractions, including the Musée du Louvre, Tuileries Gardens and the Palais Royal. In addition, it's a great district for shopping in Paris, with boutiques of all kinds clustered along and in the Rue Saint Honoré, Rue de Rivoli and the sprawling Les Halles shopping complex.
How many train stations are there in Paris?
To get to or from other destinations in Paris, you can easily take local or national rail. There are six train stations in Paris, which you'll find located on our Paris Train Stations Map. The map shows the main stations and the arrondissement they occupy.
How many arrondissements are there in Paris?
Paris Arrondissements, what are they? The Arrondissements of Paris are administrative divisions. Paris is divided into 20 Paris Arrondissements (or Paris districts). In each District of Paris, there is a town hall (Mairie) and a mayor (Maire), as well as elected officials, a council, a politician, and so on.
What is the 1st arrondissement?
The 1st Arrondissement of Paris is one of the must-see districts of Paris. If this is your first time in Paris you definitely want to include Paris 1 in your Paris itinerary because many of the famous Parisian monuments and sights are located in this district.
Why did Anne Hidalgo create the Paris arrondissements?
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo’s plan is motivated by her desire to make the arrondissements more equal in terms of the size of the population they serve. For example, while the 1st Arrondissement is home to just 17,000 residents, Paris 15 can count 240,000.
What are the Quartiers in Paris?
Parisian Quartiers, like Belleville, Saint-Germain-des-Près, and many more, are historic neighborhoods while the Arrondissements of Paris exist only since the 18 century. One Arrondissement usually includes many Paris Neighborhoods within its boundaries.
What is the oldest market in Paris?
A visit to the Marché des Enfants Rouges, the oldest market in Paris!
What is the belly of Paris?
On the other hand, Paris 1 is also the district of Les Halles. This neighborhood, historically known as “the belly of Paris” because of its huge central market, is less upmarket than the Louvre neighborhood but you’ll have more chances to find local life (and better prices) here.
Where is Paris 13?
As you can see on the Paris Arrondissements map, Paris 13 occupies the far southeast of Paris, on the Seines’s Left Bank.
How many arrondissements are there in Paris?
The Paris map shows the 20 different neighborhoods which are called arrondissements. In Paris arrondissements are named according to their number, which corresponds to an administrative district. For example, you might live in the 5th arrondissement, which would be written as 5ème (or 5e) in French. Looking at the Paris Map you can see that the districts spiral out from the center in numerical order. If you know the postal code of any address in Paris, you can easily identify which arrondissement it is located in because Parisian postal codes take the form of - 75XXX - with the last two digits being equal to the arrondissement (e.g. 75008 is the postal code for the 8th arrondissement). The suburbs are called the banlieues. The areas to the west of the city (Neuilly, Boulogne, Saint Cloud, Levallois, Versailles) are the most desirable and they are generally more peaceful than the city. Each of the Paris neighborhoods and arrondissements has its own special character which we'll try to describe below.
What is the oldest neighborhood in Paris?
Along with the 4ème arrondissement, this neighborhood makes up the Marais, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Paris. The Picasso Museum is found here, and many 17th century mansions that once housed the noblest families in Paris are still to be seen in this quiet and ungentrified neighborhood.
What is the Paris stock market?
A primarily business district. The Paris Stock Market (the Bourse) is located here and the Place des Victoires is a favorite destination for shopping in trendy boutiques.
What is the place d'Italie?
A multi-cultural residential neighborhood which includes Paris' Chinatown and the ultra-modern Bibliothèque François Mitterand. The modernist Place d’Italie is the site of one of the most ambitious French urban renewal projects and the Butte aux Cailles neighborhood with its cobblestone streets and numerous restaurants, cafes and nightlife, preserves a village-like atmosphere within Paris.
What is the place de la Bastille?
Place de la Bastille and the New Opera are found here. This is a primarily residential district popular among artists. It’s well known for its nightlife which is centered around the Rue de la Roquette and the Rue Oberkampf.
What is the name of the train station in Paris?
This lively and young district is the home of the two biggest train stations in Paris, the Gare de l'Est and the Gare du Nord. This multi-cultural neighborhood also contains a bohemian element. The cafes and restaurants along the Canal Saint-Martin make it a popular destination for both Parisians and tourists.
Where did the rue Mouffetard get its name?
This fabled neighborhood takes its name from the Sorbonne, where Latin was the common tongue for all students during the Middle Ages. The neighborhood has the feel of a small village and students mix freely with professionals in its winding streets. The rue Mouffetard is a primary artery where shops, international restaurants and student bars and cafés are found.
What is the shape of the arrondissements in Paris?
The arrondissements spiral clockwise out from the centre of Paris in a shape rather like a snail, beginning with the 1st (or 1e) and ending with the 20th (or 20e). Each has its own personality and character, making a basic understanding of the system useful for your stay in Paris.
When did Paris become an arrondissement?
The system of arrondissements dates back to the French Revolution, when, seeking a rational system of administration, the revolutionary government divided the city into twelve arrondissements in 1795. The remaining eight arrondissements were added in 1860, as the municipality of Paris incorporated what were then outlying towns and suburbs.
What is the 3rd arrondissement?
The third arrondissement is home to most of the neighbourhood of Le Marais. In the 17th century, the aristocracy’s Paris neighbourhood of choice, Le Marais fell on hard times after the French Revolution. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the district became a major commercial hub and the home of Paris’s Jewish community.
Where is the 13e in Paris?
Make a day trip to the 13e – once again on the ‘left bank’ of the Seine River – to have your preconceptions of Paris shattered. Here the Hausmann boulevards are replaced with street art covered skyscrapers. The 13e is home to Paris’s largest Chinatown (a great spot for an off-the-beaten-track food tour), the University of Arts et Metiers, one of the most prestigious engineering universities in France, and the National Library, four skyscrapers designed to look like books and the most expensive project of Francois Mitterrand’s presidency.
What is the Latin Quarter in Paris?
The first ‘left bank’ arrondissement, the student-dominated 5e is home to Paris’s famous Latin Quarter – which got its name in the Middle Ages, in reference to the students at the University of Paris (better known as La Sorbonne) who spoke Latin, rather than (then-vernacular) French.
What is the 2e in Paris?
Paris’s smallest arrondissement, the 2e is an important financial district home to the Paris stock exchange. But it’s not all business here: the 2e is also where you’ll find the majority of Paris’s charming 19th century shopping arcades.
How many districts are there in Paris?
If you’re planning to make a tour of Paris, it’s helpful to understand the system of arrondissements, which divides the municipality of Paris into twenty districts. This article is intended as a quick guide to each arrondissement, intended as background reading for our intensive city tour, 21 Days in Paris.
