The Seine river and its banks are the beating heart of Paris. The closer to the river, the more historical, elegant and fascinating the neighborhoods are. Paris is divided into twenty administrative districts named "arrondissements”. Paris has one town hall (la Mairie de Paris) and one mayor (le Maire de Paris) for the entire city. However each district also has its own town hall and mayor, un Maire d’Arrondissement.

 

On a map, the twenty districts of Paris coil like a snake around the oldest neighborhoods. When talking about Paris people refer to the Left bank and the Right bank, north and south of the Seine. North, on the Right Bank, are the 1st, 2nd and 3rd districts; the 4th district covers the area just north of the river and Ile St Louis, an island on the Seine. South, on the Left bank, are the 5th, 6th, 7th districts; the ‘snake’ coils north again, with the 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th districts, then winds south:  13th, 14th, 15th and ends up north: 16th, 17th 18th 19th and 20th.

 

It is impossible to name all the attractions and land marks of each section of Paris. Palais du Louvre and Jardin des Tuileries, Jardin du Palais Royal and Place Vendôme all grace the 1st. The 2nd is home to the old Opera house, Paris stock Exchange and ancient National Library.  The 3rd and 4th are Le Marais, home to many craftsmen’s shops and a large concentration of museums, from the Picasso Museum to Maison de Victor Hugo on beautiful Place des Vosges. Notre-Dame de Paris, la Sainte Chapelle and la Conciergerie are on the river island « Ile de la Cité » in the 4th.

 

In the 5th, referred to as the Latin Quarter, look for La Sorbonne, Le Pantheon and Boulevard St. Michel. The 6th boasts Jardin du Luxembourg, St. Germain des Prés and other medieval churches, as well as the Bon Marche department store and Boulevard St. Germain.  The Eiffel Tower is the crowning glory of the 7th along with Parc du Champ de Mars, Les Invalides where Napoleon I is buried, l’Assemblee Nationale and Musee d’Orsay. Across the Seine at Pont de l’Alma the 8th is waiting with the famous fashion houses of Avenue Montaigne, the Elysees Palace, where French Presidents live, Parc Monceau, Place de la Concorde and Champs-Elysees.  The 9th and 10th are 19th century Paris. The Rue des Martyrs area is reminiscent of a petit village. The 9th is trendy yet real. It does not cater to visitors as much other sections of Paris. It includes the Gustave Moreau museum and the Musée de la Vie Romantique. It was home to a number of writers and artists, Georges Sand, Chopin, Renoir among them. The 10th has two restored 19th century railway stations: Gare du Nord where Chunnel trains from London arrive and Gare de l’Est;  picturesque Canal St. Martin and historic Hopital St. Louis founded in 1607 by French King Henry IVth and named after his grandfather Louis IX who died of the plague. 

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