5. The 20 Arrondissements

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Whichever airport you arrive at in Paris. Do not leave without getting the free map of the Metro. You can get one at the Information Desk where you purchase your metro tickets. This little map will be your little Bible. It will list all the metro, RER lines, and connections to get from the airport. And it is Free! I do not know where you can find the maps at CDG , but I know they are at the ticket "billet" desk at ORLY. So it must be the same for CDG.

Paris is divided into 20 different neighborhoods called arrondissements or ème. think of them as districts. Arrondissements are named according to their number. For example, you might live in the 5th arrondissement, which would be written as 5ème in French. The suburbs are called the banlieue. They are generally more peaceful than the city, and those to the west of Paris (Neuilly, Boulogne, Saint Cloud, Levallois) are the most desirable. Each neighborhood in Paris has its own special character which we'll try to describe below.

1). There are 20 districts, called Arrondissements. If you think of the 1st being in the centre, the rest will follow clockwise in a spiral shape, yes, think of a snail's shell. With #1 starting in the centre, now start to spiral out, counting as you go until you get to 20.

2). All of the street signs are located on the corner buildings, usually you will locate the street name near the top of were the second floor will start. There are no corner street signs.

A. Look at the last name of the address; e.g.: rue de Boissy - Concorde The last word here is Corcorde. This will be your nearest metro station.

Of course you can also check out the complete Paris Metro Map, buy a Paris guide map, or download a Paris Metro Map on to your PDA. I download the Paris Metro Map into my PDA, and it is priceless! I got mine from www.Handango.com. It is called the "TUBE" and you can dowload the subway systems an routes from subways all over the world. I believe I paid $19.00 for the download. I have actually help Parisians with this trusty tool! If this is a deadlink email me, or leave a notice on my message board. and I will send you the link .

Notice ; locate #1 which is the first arrondissement , then go to #2 and you follow this in a spiral direction. Think of a snail's shape, and you will always be able to picture in your mind where all the districts are located.

It's impossible to generalize each neighborhood, but the following should give you a broad idea of the differences between the Paris neighborhoods:

Think of this as the beginning of the sail's shell. Everything starts out here.This is Central Paris, well connected by the metro and bus. to be

pricey and very busy. Chatelet, which is the metro station, is always very congested, as it is a major transfer point to among other things the.

RER. Once chic and trendy around Les Halles, now a bit overrun and seedy at night. The park Palais- Royal is very elegant. This is the geographical center of Paris and a haven for tourists. The Louvre, Les Halles and the Palais Royal are all here.

A primarily business district. The Paris Stock Market (the Bourse) and the Bibliothèque Nationale are here. 3èmeAlong with the 4ème arrondissement, this neighborhood makes up the Marais, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Paris. Many 17th century mansions that once housed the noblest families in Paris are still to be seen in this quiet and ungentrified neighborhood.

Also central but more commercial in the sense of wholesale outlets. Sentier is the core of Paris garment district. The streets between Les

Halles and the Grand Boulevards are some of the oldest, truly Parisian and most enchanting you will find. The rue Montorgueil, the oldest

The center of the Marais, this is a lively neighborhood with a strong alternative lifestyle scene as well as lots of trendy bars, shops, and restaurants. The rue des Rosiers is a centerpiece of Jewish lifestyle in Paris and the Ile St. Louis and the Ile de la Cité are the oldest parts of Paris.Very central with many lovely little streets, cafes, shops, etc. Congested, but worth it. Expensive. As for living in Paris, it is one of the most desirable areas of Paris for those who insist on old buildings with character and multi-cultural exposure.

On the Left Bank, the Latin Quarter .The fabled Latin Quarter. This 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.This is where you get the chic, the classy, the cultural, and the commercial. The areas down by St. Michel are tight and noisy.

The areas closer to the 13th are more residential, well connected to the center of Paris and very pleasant. Tends to be expensive.

St GermainOnce the hangout for bohemians and intellectuals, this neighborhood has undergone gentrification and is now newly chic. Upscale boutiques, art galleries, and restaurants can be found throughout this district on the Left Bank with St. Germain des Pres, Odeon. This is the stylish wealthy an artistic. Many bookshops, galleries, cinemas, upbeat cafes, restaurants and publishers. Between St.Germain and the Seine, prices for apartments are sky high. The 6e extends to Montparnasse and to Duroc. Lots of wonderful little streets.

The Eiffel Tower, the Musée d'Orsay and lots of international residents can be found in this very wealthy neighborhood. Tends to be expensive, high class, conservative and residential. Also houses most of the government ministries. Not very lively at night, although very pleasant and pretty. The street behind Les Invalides the avenue de Tourville, is the most expensive property in the French version of Monopoly.

This upscale neighborhood is in fact quite diverse. The area around Champs Elysèe, has lots of shopping and lots of tourists, while in the area to the East, between the Champs Elysee and Place de la Madeleine you will find a mixture of 19th century buildings intermingled with businesses. This area is in someways similar to parts of the 16th, but is generally less pretentious.

It is on the Right Banks Financial and corporate territory with the Champs-Elysee. Very high rents and lots of pomp. The rue St. Honore is a

A diverse residential area popular among an artistic crowd. Ths Southern portion is similar to the 2nd arrondissement, with a mix of residential and business buildings. The Paris Opera is located here. Farther North is Pigalle, the fading Red Light district as well as the famous Moulin Rouge.This includes Pigalle and Clichy. Working class neighborhood. the passageways are very crowded

The two great train stations in Paris are here, the Gare de l'Est and the Gare du Nord. This multi-cultural neighborhood also contains a bohemian element.There are some great spots near La Republique and along St. Martin canal, although along the major boulevards and St. Denis, an element of tackiness and sleaze is present. Lots of Turkish and North African restaurants. Less expensive than nearby 3e and 4e.

Place de la Bastille and the New Opera are found here. This is a primarily residential district.In the last ten years this district has emerged as perhaps the best combination of new "in places". Close to the Bastille on one end and Nation on the other. The 11e has a lot to offer without the pretensions of the Marais.

Similar to the 11e a little run down and depressed. Not the most beautiful district. New construction tends to be hideous although the new Bercy Business Park flanking the Seine offers some of the most expensive and highly sought commercial properties in Europe.

Residential neighborhood, as well as Paris' Chinatown.The heart of Chinatown, Here you will find quaint streets with little houses next to

horrible rows of Miami Beach style high rises. Some excellent, authentic Chinese restaurants.The Bibliotheque de France

Montparnasse and the Cité Universitaire are found in this residential district traditionally known for its lively cafés and restaurants around the Blvd. Montparnasse. Denfert, Montparnasse, Port d'Orleans. On the major north south axis. Many popular neighborhoods and great markets, particularly the one on the rue Daguerre. Without a doubt some of the best residential living in Paris. The area around the Parc Montsouris is lovely.

This large primarily residential neighborhood ranges from very upscale in the area bordering the 7th arrondissement and the Seine, to relatively safe and affordable in the more outlying areas. Highly sought-after residential district among Parisians. Comfortable and not without its share of trees. The rue du Commerce captures the essences of daily Parisian Family life. The streets around La Motte-Potte are very pretty.

Bois de Boulogne,Etoile, Trocadero. Although it is not as exclusive as the 7th arrondissement, the 16th is widely regarded as the neighborhood for the wealthy.Perhaps the most boring and bourgeois area of Paris, yet one of the richest spots on earth. Many International students end up here, falsely attracted by the near by Champs-Elysee, prestigious address and safety (a mistake). The streets, although pretty, are dead quiet at night and there is nothing to do. Street life is absent except around re de Passy. Many lovely small museums and private streets.

This diverse district really contains more than one neighborhood, with the portion, in the west, near the Arc de Triomph and Parc Monceau, being very upscale.Called the most schizophrenic district of Paris. Half as bourgeois as the 16the, Parc Moncea is absolutely exquisite to stroll around. The other half near La Fourche is populaire, real and even funky. A bit far from the heart of things. Prices for apartments vary dramatically.

Montmartre. This artsy residential neighborhood has a small village feel and lots of tourists. Kind of far from the central districts, although this depends if you are going to use the Metro. Encircles Montmartre. Some great markets.

The Parc des Buttes Chaumont. A residential neighborhood with many ethnic restaurants and shops.Probably the least known of all the Paris Districts, mainly because it is so isolated. Not very convenient in most cases. The Stalin-grad area has become a bit tainted by druggies and dealers.

Opera:	1st, 2nd and 9th Arrondissements
Les Halles	1st
Le Marais	3rd & 4th
Ile Saint-Louis	4th
Quartier Latin	5th
Saint Germain	6th
Champ-de- Mars & Invalides & Etoile/Faubourg	7th
St-Honore	8th
Bastille	11th & the edge of the 12th
Chinatown	13th
Montparnasse	14th & 15th
Victor Hugo & Palais de Chillot	16th
Par Monceau	17th
Montmartre	18th
Belleville & Menilmontant	19th & 20th