Navigating the Neighborhoods of Paris
If you are moving to Paris, you probably know it is a huge city with many different neighborhoods. Paris is one of the most populated metropolitan areas of Europe, with 2.1 million people in the city proper, and 11 million in the greater city. There are millions of tourists every year in addition to that. Paris is a major global center, full of history, and present-day culture of education, fashion, theater, science and media. Paris is divided into 20 different districts, or arrondissements, named after their number.
The Latin Quarter/5th arrondissement of Paris is a very frequented district, in the Left Bank of the river. It has many restaurants, shops and parks to relax in. This district is named the Latin Quarter because Latin was the official language until 1793. It was also the site of the famous student protests in 1968. The Pantheon is located in this district, as well as the Jardin du Luxumbourg, which has very manicured, symmetrical plant and tree arrangements, among other beauty. The Latin Quarter is frequented by tourists, but many students of the various educational institutions also live here. There are many windy streets to wander around through. There is easy access to the Metro, and rent is high but not unreasonable. It is a great neighborhood for families and individuals.
The St Germaine/6th section of town is also on the Left Bank. It is considered a “Bohemian” and “intellectual” district, full of galleries, bookstores, bistros, boutiques, bars, cafes and publishing houses. This area has recently gone through gentrification, so is more expensive than it used to be. The apartments here are almost all traditional, and they are a bit pricey. Families and individuals alike can enjoy this neighborhood.
The 9th district of Paris has modern and traditional apartments, great transportation, and is not a major tourist center (though some do still stop by). It is a diverse, artistic residential area with a varied crowd, and is in the Right Bank of the river. It looks interesting, with a mix of business and residential buildings. The 9th district is considered busy and great for young people, but not exactly a family neighborhood. The Paris Opera is located in this area.
The 13th district of Paris is less central and less expensive, and is less tourist-frequented. There is easy access to the Latin Quarter in the Northern part, and the National Library is in this area. This is Paris’ Chinatown, which also has a strong Vietnamese presence. It is not as busy, has greenery, and nice local stores. It is a better neighborhood to live as a family. The architecture here ranges from very modern to very traditional, depending where you are, and there are some business buildings. There is good transportation access to both the suburbs and city center of Paris.
I adore Paris
We are moving to Paris for my husbands job. We would like to live in an area where there is a large ex-pat community as we have had difficulty being accepted by long term residents in Luxembourg and in Metz (I am American, he is French, kids are duel citizens). We need to be in an area with a garden and schools, so we were thinking about the outskirts of Paris. Safety is also a big concern. The office is located on the RER A line so we are most interested in neighborhoods that are within walking distance of this line. Any suggestions?