Tips 1 - 10 of 21 Paris General Tips
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Favorite Thing: As Dave Barry wrote after having just visited Paris:"The Parisians have been building historic attractions for more than 1500 years as part of a coordinated effort to kill any visitors to their city who manages to escape French drivers.
The key is *stairs*. Most tourist attractions, such as L'Arc de Triomphe (the Lark of Triumph) and the Hunchback of Notre Dame Cathedral, have some kind of lookout point at the top that you - the tourist - are encouraged to climb via a dark and scary medieval stone staircase containing 5789 steps and the skeletons of previous tourists. (You can tell which skeletons are American, because they're wearing sneakers.)
If you make it to the top, you are rewarded with a sweeping panoramic view of dark spots before your eyes caused by lack of oxygen.
Meanwhile, down on the street, the Parisians are smoking cigarettes and remarking, in French, "Some of them are still alive! We must build more medieval steps!"So...please...wear your most comfortable shoes (something not too ugly!) and you'll be prepared to see Paris on many different levels much more enjoyably...using stairs, of course!
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Favorite Thing: The river Seine divides Paris in a gentle arc, and flows from east to west...and...if you face the direction of the flow, the Right Bank 'Rive Droit' is on your right and the Left Bank 'Rive Gauche' is...you guessed it!
The Right Bank is generally characterized as a centre of commerce and banking, haute couture, palace hotels, and grand, wide boulevards.
The Left Bank, historically considered the centre of learning and religious activity, and with its enclave of writers and intellectuals, is rich with cafe life. The hotels here tend to be small and charming, rather than grand hotels of luxury.
Paris is divided into 20 districts called arrondissements, each with its own mayor and town hall or "marie".
Many small neighborhoods lie within these arrondissements, several spilling over its boundaries into others. Each arrondissement is referred to by an ordinal number; the first ("le premier"), the second (le deuxieme"), etc. They spiral clockwise from the central portion of the city to the ring road called the Boulevard Peripherique.
The number of the arrondissement is also the last 2 digits of a Paris address, whereas the first 2 digits signify Paris.
For example, an address with a postal code of 75008 will be in the eighth arrondissement; one with a postal code of 75011 will be in the 11th.
This helps when you have an address you need to go to...it'll help you head towards the right part of the city.
Fondest Memory: Each arrondissement has its own unique character and selection of attractions for the traveler: 1st (1er). The geographical centre of Paris and a great starting point for travelers. The Louvre Museum, the Jardin des Tuileries, Place Vendôme, Les Halles and Palais Royal are all to be found here.
2nd (2e). The central business district of the city - the Bourse (the Paris Stock Exchange) and the Bibliothèque Nationale are located here.
3rd (3e). Archives Nationales, Musée Carnavalet, Conservatoire des Arts et Métiers, the northern, quieter part of the Marais
4th (4e). Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Hôtel de Ville ( Paris town hall), Beaubourg, le Marais (gay Paris)
5th (5e). Jardin des Plantes, Quartier Latin, Universités, La Sorbonne, Le Panthéon
6th (6e). Jardin du Luxembourg, Saint-Germain des Prés
7th (7e). Tour Eiffel, Les Invalides, Musée d'Orsay
8th (8e). Champs-Elysées, the Palais de l'Elysée, la Madeleine
9th (9e). Opéra Garnier, Grands Magasins
10th (10e). Canal Saint-Martin, Gare du Nord, Gare de l'Est
11th (11e). the bars and restaurants of Rue Oberkampf, Bastille, Nation, New Jewish Quarter
12th (12e). Opéra Bastille, Bercy Park and Village, Promenade plantée, Quartier d'Aligre, Gare de Lyon, the Bois de Vincennes
13th (13e). Quartier Chinois, Place d'Italie, La Butte aux Cailles, Bibliothèque Nationale de France (BNF)
14th (14e). Montparnasse Cemetery, Denfert-Rochereau, Parc Montsouris
15th (15e). Montparnasse Tower, Gare Montparnasse, Stadiums
16th (16e). Palais de Chaillot, Musée de l'Homme, the Bois de Boulogne
17th (17e). Palais des Congrès, Place de Clichy
18th (18e). Montmartre, Pigalle, Barbès
19th (19e). Museum of Science and Industry, Parc de la Villette, Bassin de la Villette, Parc des Buttes Chaumont
20th (20e). Père Lachaise Cemetery
La Défense. The skyscraper district on the western edge of town.
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Favorite Thing: The 1st arrondissement... is the central part of Paris along the Right Bank of the Seine and part of the Ile de la Cite, the island site of the earliest Paris settlements.
This area is rich with sights for tourists...especially for first-timers to the City of Light! It includes the Musee de Louvre -- a MUST SEE -- and the largest and most famous museum in the world; the Tuileries gardens; arcades along the Rue de Rivoli; the Palais Royale; the exquisite Ste Chapelle; and the Conciergerie. Other quartiers include Les Halles and Chatelet.
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Favorite Thing: The 2nd arrondissement... contains the Bourse (the Paris Stock Exchange) and Sentier, the ready-to-wear garment district.
This area is normally not a tourist choice.
It does, however, contain several 19th century glass-roofed "galeries" or "passages"; there are others in the 1st, 9th, and 10th. These passages were originally designed to protect pedestrian shoppers from the mud of the streets.
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Favorite Thing: Major portions of the 3rd and 4th arrondissements... make up the Marais ("swamp"), a neighborhood popular with visitors.
It is noted for its picturesque streets; 18th century "hotels particuliers"; the elegant Places des Vosges; boutiques; galleries; and an animated cafe and nightlife that includes the gay scene.
There are excellent museums in the Marais, e.g. the Musee National Picasso, and the Musee Carnavalet, which is dedicated to the history of Paris. The rue de Rosiers in the Marais is the historic centre of the Jewish community in Paris.
Other "quartiers" in the 3rd and 4th include Beaubourg, Temple, Arsenal, and the Bastille.
The 4th contains the Centre Georges-Pompidou; Musee National d'Art Moderne, and the magnificent Cathedral Notre Dame, and most of the Ile de la Cite, along with the Ile St. Louis, a primarily residential area. And while not an area with major tourist attractions, the Ile St. Louis is popular for its romantic charm and central location.
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Favorite Thing: The 5th arrondissement... is south of the islands on the Left Bank of Paris.
The two major areas of interest to the tourist are the Latin Quarter (which spills into the 6th) and the area around the rue Mouffetard and the Jardin des Plantes.
The Latin Quarter takes its name from the religious and intellectual history of this part of Paris. Home to the Sorbonne, the area is bustling, full of students and cafe life. (I absolutely loved this section of Paris!!!)
In addition, you'll find the Pantheon, the Musee National du Moyen Age (Middle Ages), and several interesting, historic churches; St. Severin, St. Julien le Pauvre, and St. Etienne du Mont.
Slightly east of the Latin Quarter is the Mouffetard area with its lively food market, Roman ruins (Arenes de Lutece), Paris' botanical gardens, the Paris Mosque, the Arab Institute, and the Musee de Sculpture en Plein Air along the banks of the Seine.
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Favorite Thing: The dividing line between the 5th and 6th is Blvd. St. Michel ("Boul Mich").
As you move west into the 6th, the neighborhood becomes less of a student haven. Traditionally an area of the literati, bookstores, and publishers, it is now full of chic designer boutiques, antique shops, and galleries. Cafes and restaurants abound, and the rue de Buci has a popular food market.
Significant churches are St. Germain des Pres, the oldest church in Paris, and St. Sulpice.
The 60-acre Luxembourg Gardens provide a central and civilized oasis of green...a fresh-air respite for both residents and visitors.
Neighborhoods in the 6th include Saint-Germain-des-Pres, Beaux-Arts, the Odeon, Sevres-Babylone, Luxembourg, and part of Montparnasse.
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Favorite Thing: West of the 6th is the 7th arrondissement... with its major monuments, government buildings, embassies, upscale antique dealers, and elegant hotel particuliers.
Quieter at night than the 5th and 6th, its "quartiers" include Faubourg St. Germain, Invalides, Ecole Militaire, and Gros Caillou.
A food lover's delight, the 7th has excellent restaurants, abundant food shops, and the rue Cler food market, regarded by some as the best in Paris.
The 7th is also high on the tourist list: the Eiffel Tower, Champs de Mars, the Musee d'Orsay, Hotel des Invalides, Napolean's Tomb, Musee Rodin, and Ecole Militaire are all in this area of Paris.
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Favorite Thing: Back on the Right Bank, the 8th offers... the Avenue des Champs-Elysees, often described as the most beautiful avenue in the world and the symbolic centre of France.
There are magnificent views along the axis from the Arc du Carrousel by the Louvre in the 1st through the Arc du Triomphe at the juncture of 8th, 16th, and 17th, to the Grande Arche de la Defense west of the Peripherique.
The main branch of the Paris Tourist Bureau is here, near the Arc du Triomphe.
Other attractions in the 8th include the Grand and Petit Palais, the Place de la Concorde, La Madeleine, an abundance of haute couture houses, and the lovely Parc Monceau on the northwestern edge.
Neighborhoods include Etoile, Monceau, Faubourg Honore, and L'Europe (also in the 9th).
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Favorite Thing: The 9th is... an interesting mix of neighborhoods, grand boulevards, and large department stores (Printemps and Galeries Lafayette).
It is also home to the opulent Opera Garnier, now more frequently a venue for ballet and concerts than opera.
Across the street from the Opera Garnier, first-time Paris visitors will find Paristoric, an excellent multimedia overview of city history and its monuments.
Neighborhoods in the 9th include Chaussee d'Antin, Grands Boulevards, l'Opera, la Nouvelle Athenes, and Saint George.
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» Ask about Paris Destinations near Paris- Île de la Cité, 1.22 km / 0.76 miles
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 Comments for Lady_Mystique about Paris | | | | |
hunterV Sat Oct 17, 2009 19:51 UTC
Hello, Maria Annastasia! Thanks for your wonderful story about your favorite city! ><><>< | nyperose Sat Sep 20, 2008 05:56 UTC
Splendide page sur Paris! J'adore la ville lumière:-D | Herkbert Wed Sep 3, 2008 23:32 UTC
Maria.. you captured my favorite picture for your main pic. I have that shot but alas, it was during the day. I am hoping to try again when we return to Paris in December. Loved your tips and pics.. Tom | Nemorino Wed Sep 3, 2008 23:05 UTC
You've added dozens of fine new tips and updates to this page since I last stopped by, which was on April 2, 2006. Again I enjoyed reading your highly literate and entertaining (and informative!) travelogues and tips, with a nice personal touch. |
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on Aug 31, 2006
