Paris is the largest city in France, the capital, holder of many world records, for example, here is the most visited museum in the world, in addition, the city itself is the world leader in tourist attendance, about 23 million tourists visit it annually, the world capital of fashion, art, cuisine, shopping, besides this is the most romantic city, you are on your honeymoon, you won’t find anything better, a trip to Europe will generally be incomplete without visiting Paris. Paris is a city of light, not only because the first street lamps appeared here, but also because of the birth of the Age of Enlightenment in these places.
Population of Paris
Hotels, apartments, houses, real estate and utilities in Paris
A trip to Paris and life in Paris are slightly different from each other, a tourist trip is a joy, a great event, probably to a greater extent this applies to women who are in absentia in love with this most romantic city on earth. Before your trip, you definitely need to remember what French painting is, it is both modern modernism and unkillable fashionable classics with Baroque and Rococo. Many people anticipate events, carefully study information about Paris, its museums, and attractions, thus getting to Paris itself seems a little familiar to everyone, it’s a pity that when preparing for a trip you can’t close your eyes to this beauty and perceive only technically useful information, such as how to get there, where to stay, where to go and what to do. The central squares and avenues of Paris are easily recognizable, for example, the classic view from the Seine embankment to Notre Dame Cathedral, the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, and the Palace of Versailles. There is also something to do in the vicinity of Paris; these surroundings can also be considered a trip to the “castles of the Loire”. Residents of Paris undoubtedly get a better idea of the city than tourists, but it’s still impossible to explore all of Paris even in a couple of days; it’s impossible to understand the whole aura of this city; in order to understand the city, its mood, you need to live here for at least one year, to trace the change of seasons.
Despite all its pomp, Paris in France is very modest, of course, if you compare it with Moscow. What does it mean? And the fact that in Paris there is no such exemplary architecture as in Moscow, France today does not have money from the sale of oil and gas, everything is more modest here, Paris does not seem so golden compared to other French cities and even the provinces, the difference between Moscow and Russian Villages are just like heaven and earth, the same cannot be said about Paris and all of France, every French village is a smaller copy of Paris, just as beautiful, golden, sparkling, but only a little smaller and that’s all. If you drive 50 kilometers from Paris you will not find yourself in another world with potholes on the roads, abandoned villages, poor people and the like, it is believed that in the provinces of France people live richer than in Paris, at least they do not have such debts as Parisians and they can afford more.
Where is the best place to live in Paris?
It all depends on the wallet, be it a tourist or a local resident. Of course, we exclude from the question the native Parisians who inherited their apartments from their grandparents; they will not have to choose a place of residence. Tourists choose a place a little closer to the historical center or closer to the metro, the time spent in Paris for them will still be only on the street, in museums, at attractions, in the room only to spend the night, here you can save money, even book a hostel or two-star hotel with windows on a blank wall or no windows at all; heat in summer can also be a problem. As a rule, a light French breakfast will be provided with croissants, rolls, jam, butter, cheese and coffee, but the baguettes must certainly be of today’s kind, the French understand a lot about this. It's nice that French products can still spoil, which means they are not artificial, but natural.
But for a tourist, what matters more is not where to live in Paris, but when to live in Paris, the city is very different in the summer season and at the end of spring, first of all it is the clear sky, the gilded gilding of monuments, fountains and bridges sparkling in the sun, although Paris is not the most green city in the world, according to this indicator it is an order of magnitude behind Moscow. However, the ancient grayness of Paris, its gloomy gothic style, goes better with contrasting things, for example, sunny and warm weather; impressions of Paris in autumn and winter are not very favorable.
The worst areas are "Château Rouge" and "Barbes", the outskirts are not recommended, which are populated mainly by migrants from Africa and Asia, but this is not an indicator of people without a fixed place of residence can be found in the most central areas, they live in alleys, in boxes , under bridges, in telephone booths, subways, tents. All abandoned plants, factories and houses in Paris are inhabited.
In the cold season, Parisians dress randomly in all black and gray, there are no bright colors, at least some variety is found in the summer. Parisians dress in the worst way, this greatly shocks visitors at first, it would seem that Paris is the world center of fashion, here everyone should look as if they just ran off the catwalk at a fashion show, but the reality is completely different. The fact is that Paris is an international city, people of different races, nationalities, religions try to get along peacefully here, 41% of Parisians are foreigners, most of them come from former French colonies, countries of Africa and Asia. A brightly dressed woman, so to speak, in a bourgeois outfit, even a blonde, can cause a general commotion and provoke an attack; for this reason, local women prefer not to stand out from the crowd and generally dress like a plain-looking man. Russians and especially Muscovites who come to Paris for the first time do not know about this and begin to rejoice for their country, at least in some ways Moscow is better than Paris, our women look brighter, more fashionable. The same applies to men in Paris, you shouldn’t dress very expensively, show how rich you are, those who are poorer may not like this, especially since only the French are trained in tolerance, they are afraid of offending someone and therefore I prefer to keep my thoughts and opinions to myself, whereas foreigners are not afraid to express their opinions about others.
To find a comfortable living space in Paris you need to try hard, to rent a good apartment you need to earn a lot, often the average salary is only enough for the most mediocre housing, to buy a good apartment in Paris you really need millions, since the cost of a square meter of housing in Paris can easily reach up to 50,000 euros. Rent of a two-room apartment in Paris is in a very wide range, from 500 to 3000 euros on average. Here it is necessary to maintain the ratio of income received and housing costs, so that there is enough money left to live in Paris, since there are a lot of temptations to spend money here. You can also save on utilities, for example, adjusting the heating in winter. It’s not enough to use water, not turn on the lights, and so on, this is how most Parisians live; Europeans generally have total savings in their blood on everything, which was not observed 20 years ago. It is also easy to live in the suburbs of Paris, the public transport system is well established, you can easily get to the city in an hour, and many industrial enterprises are located in these suburbs; Parisians tend to live where there is work, and not vice versa.
Transport and cars in Paris
Paris is the city where urban public transport was born and its history begins back in 1662. The metro in Paris is the largest and densest in the world, with 14 lines, 213 kilometers and 300 stations including the funicular. In terms of ease of use of the metro, Paris is the best city in the world, since there is no house that is more than half a kilometer away from the nearest metro station, no matter where you live in Paris there is a metro everywhere, so this issue is not so relevant as in, for example, Moscow or Kyiv, here they don’t wonder how close the metro is. In addition, there is a tram in Paris, but only one important line runs through the city itself, all the others connect the suburbs, this is understandable since the metro satisfies everyone. At night you can use night bus routes; during the day there are 60 routes. Paris is a city of bicycles and motorcycles, which are even more numerous than cars. There are huge problems in the city with car parking; parking itself is incredibly expensive; an incorrectly parked car will be taken to the parking lot without any further ado. Many have noticed that the front and back of cars in Paris are always damaged, this is how Parisians park close to each other, complaints about parking are not accepted, you should not even be offended if you are pressed in the parking lot so that you cannot leave, in this case you need push away enemy cars. Paris has 440 kilometers of bike paths. Unlike Moscow and Kyiv, such bicycle paths are fenced with physical obstacles that will not allow vehicles to move along them. There is a wide network of bicycle rentals, although it is much more expensive than using your own bicycle, but this attraction is popular among tourists. It is not profitable to have your own car in Paris; at least you need the smallest car in its size.
A bicycle in Paris can be rented at an automatic station, you need to register and pay with a credit card, the first half hour of riding is free, but the first registration procedure can take a whole hour, this greatly discourages such stations.
Restaurants and cafes in Paris
You can prepare to spend 50-60 euros per person in restaurants, this is a modest dinner with wine. Unlike other countries of Western Europe, especially Scandinavia, in France you can find ethnic restaurants or grocery stores, all this adds consumer diversity and flavor, these are the small joys for which Paris and the whole of France are loved. Foreigners in France can establish their own business, the Chinese are opening French restaurants and displacing the French themselves, it turns out that these Asians already understand more about traditional French dishes and products, while the cost of such dishes is lower, and the quality is possibly better. If we talk about elite restaurant, especially those that have earned the highest rating of three stars from the Michelin gastronomic guide, then Paris is the most nominated city in this regard, French cuisine and French restaurants are far ahead in isolation from other restaurants and cuisine of other countries. Visiting a restaurant in Paris is two separate pleasures, some visitors enjoy exclusively the taste of the dishes, in which case they do not need the surrounding interior, for others it’s the other way around, it’s important to sit in an open area, enjoy the life of the city flying by, enjoy the good weather, both in Paris it may not be cheap. So coffee in Paris can reach up to 5 euros per cup; according to this indicator, Paris can be equal to Vienna, where Viennese coffee is an exceptional thing and does not speak about the general price level in this city. You can’t get to the toilet for free in a cafe in Paris; first you need to buy or order something, you can just offer a couple of euros.
Shops, shopping, standard of living in Paris
Parisians, like the French in general, love variety in food and goods, the French love to buy food products from more than one place or from the same manufacturer, as for example we like to do this, we fell in love with one sausage, cheese, candy or store, so we will never part with with your passions. The French are not chained to one manufacturer, there are a lot of such manufacturers, all have approximately the same prices, the quality is also equally good, but the taste is different. The French love to mix different products, they will not be lazy to choose, go to small ethnic shops, try everything, compare, the markets of Paris also play a big role.
Paris is truly the best city in the world for shopping, there is no such unified and localized trade as in other cities, especially in America, where everything has been taken over by international companies, the same thing is sold everywhere, but in Paris there is a large selection from numerous private traders and manufacturers goods, we also note local flea markets, where you can find many unique things. Standard tourist souvenirs in Paris are surprisingly cheap; gifts for friends can be found for just a couple of euros, for example, a weighty glass Eiffel Tower; a similar souvenir in Russian stores will cost much more.
Work, salaries, vacancies and the economy of Paris
Industrial and processing plants are located in the suburbs of Paris; in its structure, Paris strongly resembles a typical metropolis in the United States. The GDP per capita in Paris is in second place in the European Union, the GDP of Paris is 31% of the GDP of the whole of France. In recent years, the economy of Paris has been shifting towards services, finance, IT services, high-tech manufacturing, electronics, optics, aerospace and so on.
Today, Paris is considered the 10th green city among the 30 largest cities in Europe; the concept of a green city in terms of friendliness to the environment and ecology should not be confused with green vegetation; in terms of the number of trees, Paris is of course in last place in Europe and is much inferior to any cities in Russia or Ukraine, but from an environmental point of view, Paris is far ahead of us.
A quarter of all French enterprises have opened their offices in Paris; international companies also consider it an honor to open their offices here, although local tax legislation does not allow this, but to say that we have an office in Paris is very prestigious. Paris has the largest number of large international representative offices of companies compared to other European cities.
Unemployment in Paris today is about 8.7%, which is very high, but still less than the French average. 85% of the working population of Paris is employed in the service sector, 35% of workers are employed in services from small private enterprises, 30% in manufacturing, 20% in construction, 15% in public catering.
Tourism in Paris accounts for 13% of the city's GDP. Every year, Paris is visited by a huge number of tourists, they are 12 times more than the permanent population of Paris, and thus we can say that the vast majority of people on the streets of Paris are visiting tourists. Don’t try to ask them how to get there or there, they still don’t know.
It is impossible not to mention the recently built La Defense business district, the main shopping center in Europe. Paris, according to many statistical organizations, is the leader in Europe in terms of investment attractiveness and ranks 4th in the world according to this indicator.
Paris is the best place in France, and maybe even in Europe in general, to look for work, here you can realize yourself in any field of activity, Paris in Europe is like New York in America, a city of contrasts and a city of great opportunities. At the same time, Paris has all the disadvantages of a large city; getting a job does not mean that life is good; you need to find acceptable housing that will satisfy a person, since the cost of renting an apartment can be higher than the salary.
Unusual in Paris
There are only two things that surprise us in Paris; we will tell you about them in a few words. The first is a large number of bicycles and motorcycles on the streets of the city, two-wheeled friends filled all the free space, it seems that locals from tourists can only be distinguished by the presence or absence of a bicycle.
The second moment is young people sitting with dogs on the streets of central Paris with a begging bowl. Moreover, it is clear that these are not some kind of social lower classes, homeless people, no, young people are well dressed, sitting with modern gadgets, listening to music. In Paris, as in other cities of Western Europe, you will never find a stray dog, there are homeless people, but there are no dogs, apparently, dogs receive much more attention from society than people, so the dog causes an effect on passers-by, how not to regret it such a colorful couple, a young man and a mongrel, how touching, also on the streets of Paris.
Study, education, schools and universities in Paris
center of education in France, and perhaps in Europe in general. Here is the famous Sorbonne University, founded back in 1257; the main educational buildings are located in the famous Latin Quarter. Today the Sorbonne is 13 independent universities, some of them are located in the suburbs of Paris. Another prestigious institution is the Institut de France with 5 academies, including the popular École Polytechnique.Treatment and medicine in Paris
Paris has the largest number of medical facilities of any city in the European Union. We will not list everything, but we note that despite such a large number of hospitals and clinics, getting to a doctor in Paris is not so easy, you must first see a local therapist, and then only get a referral to a highly specialized specialist; you may have to wait for your turn for several weeks .
Ecology in Paris
Despite the fact that Paris is considered the greenest city in France and maybe even in Europe, the level of air pollution here is the highest among all French cities, namely 38 μg/m3 of particulate matter per cubic meter. The air in Paris is indeed very dirty, but it is not much higher than in Moscow, so we are not used to this. In Paris, there are very strict laws regarding environmental pollution, throwing garbage on the street, and for a mistake in walking dogs you can get a fine of 500 euros. Yes, since the Middle Ages Paris has been considered a very dirty city. Many visitors are shocked by local rats, Paris is literally drowning in these unpleasant creatures, they can be seen on the lawns in front of the Eiffel Tower, on the streets of the city, perhaps the reason is that the Parisian authorities were too active in fighting stray cats and dogs that are no longer left, but they were the only limiting factor for the growth of the rat population.
Parks and gardens in Paris are very rare, although officially there are 421 of them, it seems like a lot, but in fact they are small and of course there are not enough of them in the warm season, the parks are crowded with Parisians who are trying to find at least one square meter of green space, walk around barefoot on the grass, in touch with nature. However, the city is distinguished by the presence of the oldest park in France called the Tuileries, laid out in 1564, there is a Luxembourg garden, as a rule, gardens are arranged together with palaces of the same name. Since 1977, 177 new gardens have appeared in Paris, which have improved the lives of Parisians, including floating gardens; new gardens are located in areas of modern new buildings.
Leisure in Paris
The place where the attacks took place, nothing but flowers reminds of the terrible minutes of Friday November 13, but on the barriers on the approach to the football stadium where the tragedy occurred, someone erased the letter L, it was “Welcome”, and now the phrase has become in the ominous We come “we are going”, the joke probably appeared at the beginning of the match before the terrorist attack and had a slightly different meaning, more fun. Meanwhile, in Republic Square, people do not stop carrying wreaths, the phrase “You shot at us, and now we have come” appeared.
All residents of France can be divided into two categories - Parisians and provincials. There is an opinion that in order to become a true Parisian, you need to live in Paris for at least six years. And to become a provincial, six hours is enough. This is the average time it takes to get to any point in France by car or train.
Each region of France has its own characteristics and local residents are usually very proud of them. These could be the ruins of an old castle, or a special breed of chickens, cows and horses. Here is the well in which the semi-mythical Joan of Arc watered her horse, and, of course, her wine and home-made cheeses.
Each region speaks with its own slight accent and local slang. However, it should be said that Parisians are not homogeneous either. All of them can be divided into at least twenty categories, according to the number of districts of the capital.
It says a lot to a Parisian what area of the city a person lives in. If you live in the 18th arrondissement, Montmartre, that's one thing. If it's in the fifth district, it's different. And if in the 16th, then this is a completely third thing.
To characterize a Parisian, it is also important to know whether he rents an apartment or whether it is his property, and, of course, it all depends on what area of the city the apartment is located in, in the super-rich 1660s or in the 1990s, where the majority of the population are emigrants from the countries of the Arab East and Black Africa.
By the way, residents of the suburbs should also be considered Parisians, since they form an integral part of Parisian society.
The place of residence is chosen depending on the social stratum to which the capital’s resident belongs. There are a huge number of such social layers in the capital.
In the literal sense of the word, it is difficult to call them social layers. Most likely, these are social groups or even certain communities of people who are united by a certain way of life. So, for example, representatives of one profession can be divided into a separate group. If you are told that a given Parisian is a bank employee, then you can already roughly imagine his way of thinking, his tastes, rhythm of life, hobbies, and even where and how he spends his vacation. The same can be said about the butcher, baker, plumber, writer, actor, journalist.
A few words about a special social stratum, about a special closed community of a small part of Parisians. So, for example, if the nouveau riche flaunt their wealth, wear expensive watches, dress in the best fashion houses, go to all the most prestigious concerts, exhibitions and receptions, then a representative of the above-mentioned layer very clearly and scrupulously outlines the circle of his acquaintances, his boutiques and restaurants. He will never say where, how much and how he earns. For these people, the most important thing is to belong to a certain circle, to the elite. Not to the one that is formed in the process of development of society, but to the one that seems to have always existed. A representative of this category will never say that he bought a country house, this is bad form. He will answer that this house has always belonged to his family, even if it was purchased a couple of weeks before.
But that's not all. The house must be surrounded by at least three dozen hectares of forest or other land. After all, you have to hunt and graze your horses somewhere...
The background of a person belonging to this circle should be almost aristocratic, but not necessarily. He can engage in any kind of business, from trading bananas to distributing drugs, but he always has at least a fourth cousin who once married an impoverished count or baron. And if one of the family’s distant ancestors took part in the Crusades, then there can be no doubt about it. This person is unconditionally included in a narrow circle, even if he does not have a villa on the banks of the Loire and an apartment in the sixteenth arrondissement.
Members of this caste are always dressed rather modestly, but this modesty is deceptive. The jacket will not have the sticker of a prestigious - from the point of view of the nouveau riche - company. But an experienced eye will immediately identify the work of an expensive tailor, from a port-a-porter suit.
As for women, they don’t dress from Christian Dior or Yves Saint Laurent, although they have quite enough money. Their stores are in the sixth and sixteenth districts. In addition, for them to give birth in the eighteenth district, only in the sixteenth. By the way, their children have their own fashion, which could be defined in the words: simple, good and comfortable.
In everyday life, the behavior of representatives of this circle is also different, and this is monitored very carefully. If you deviate just a little to the side, doubts will immediately arise as to whether you rightfully belong to this circle of people.
So, for example, your parents should be called na. A lady should kiss her hands, which looks completely stupid among the leftist intelligentsia. When meeting, one must exchange kisses not two, but four times, as required by the long-standing Catholic traditions of the family.
The education of this handful of people should be the best. That is, the most prestigious higher schools in France, but not the Sorbonne, where everyone who is not too lazy studies, and it is customary to speak English with a slight Oxford accent.
Their fate is predetermined from beginning to end. This means studying at a prestigious lyceum, preparatory courses for higher school, the higher school itself, which prepares elite personnel for society, then a career, depending on the chosen specialty.
Marriage is also a special phenomenon for them. Is it necessary to clarify that they marry or are married only exclusively to people in their own circle.
Of course, you can have a mistress on the side, from some other layer of society, however, it is better to make sure that no one ever finds out about it. As an exception, you can even invite her into the house, but no more than two or three times, otherwise they will think badly of you, and this cannot be allowed. Just as it is forbidden to move too quickly and unceremoniously with new acquaintances. If you don’t feel exactly at what point in your acquaintance this can be done, then you are not a person in their circle. In addition, you should wear a company handkerchief around your neck, a fountain pen, a lighter, play golf, and love sports, especially auto racing and rallies. You should also regularly appear at a tennis tournament and preferably in the guest stand.
You must love holidays in the countryside, communicate with friends simply and unpretentiously, never show your emotions in public and read the newspaper.
But if all this suddenly appears to you, even if you begin to speak with a slight drawl and show with all your appearance how calmly, pleasantly and easily you live for your own pleasure, this does not mean at all that you can count yourself among this small circle, after all, none of you and I, dear reader, have a relative who took part in the crusades, even as a groom to Richard the Lionheart.
Many Russians are very mistaken when they think that life in Europe cannot be worse than in Russia. Judging only by tourist brochures, traveling only to the generally accepted tourist places of the “countries of your dreams,” as well as feature films, life “there” is wonderful. The reality is this...
For those who live in Paris, it is no secret that homeless people (the French call them Clochards) are everywhere in this city and their number is simply depressing.
Many of them live in the metro, some right on the streets in tents, cardboard boxes and simply in sleeping bags. You just have to turn a little away from the central streets and you will immediately see homeless people. Sometimes you can see them, briskly asking for alms for food (from 1 to 50 euros), even on the central streets and crossroads of Paris. Walking through the streets of Paris in the evening, you can see homeless people getting ready for bed. How they wash their clothes in running water that flows along the sidewalk curbs.
There is another type of homeless people who occupy abandoned buildings and factories (they are called Squats here) located on the outskirts of Paris. There are about several thousand units of such abandoned real estate in Paris and its suburbs, and all of them are approximately 95% occupied by homeless people. They live there in such “communities” of 10-100 people, and each “community” has its own hierarchy.
I completely forgot to say - homeless people in France are Europeans, as well as Arabs and blacks, nationality doesn’t matter here, it doesn’t matter at all. Middle-class citizens who have lost their jobs and were unable to find a new one become clochards here. And since 90% of the population is burdened with loans, and the tax burden is too high (21% - 75% depending on income and marital status; for comparison in Russia 13%) and it is also necessary to pay rent for housing, electricity, gas, water …… Then after a while, such people, who are unable to pay their bills, have all their property taken away and they are deprived of their housing. Then they have no choice but to go live on the street or in some abandoned house.
In the cold season, clochards warming themselves in the air intakes of the metro (and the metro in Paris is at every turn) are even supplied with warm clothes. In general, the authorities take great care of them. Therefore, it is forbidden to chase homeless people in Paris. The man chose this way of life for himself. And many clochards do not want to return to their old life, even if fate gives them such an opportunity.
The Paris Clocharne also has its own hierarchy. Newcomers get places in areas remote from the center or in the Parisian suburbs. Old-timers have staked out the best Parisian neighborhoods and streets from the point of view of “earning money.” The more “status” the clochard is (for example, the former owner of an expensive mansion), the “by concept” the more profitable place is “assigned” to him.
The clochards go down to the subway for the night. They are not kicked out of there either, but in the morning some metro stations have to be sprayed with perfume!
The unofficial “headquarters” of the Parisian clochards is the Church of Saint-Eustache next to the belly of Paris, the largest market in the city, the Forum des Halles in the 1st (!) most tourist arrondissement.
So our Russian proverb is absolutely right: “It’s good where we are not.”
Very often lately I have been asked to tell me which district of Paris is best for renting accommodation for the holidays. So that “everything is nearby”, and “it’s not far from the center”, and “it’s easy to walk”. Ideally, you also need a food market nearby. And the bakery is a must. Well, since this is the case, let the metro station be nearby just in case. So that the area is not touristic. But not the backyard, of course.
Phew, guys. What can I tell you? Firstly, I want to offer you a lip roller completely free of charge)) And secondly, I still don’t know anyone. You never know what ideas anyone has about “walking distance.” For some this is five minutes maximum, but for me twenty is normal. In addition, for example, I adore the 15th district in which I live, but I have stopped recommending it. Tourists, looking at the map, do not understand how it can be comfortable for living when it is located SO FAR FROM THE CENTER (which is actually not true). So I sat down, thought about it and decided to write a detailed post with all the pros and cons for each of the 20 arrondissements of Paris. From your own bell tower, of course. So that there is somewhere to send those who ask for advice next time.
THE MOST IMPORTANT
If you suddenly want to ask me for contacts of an inexpensive apartment with a view, I don’t know this 🙂 And I don’t understand how I even know this)) If you need “apartments in the center”, I have no idea where to look for them. I just can’t figure out where this wave of such questions is coming from (I’m not a realtor, I just live here) - they started somewhere in early autumn, and they are asked very, very often. But I don't have this information. These guys own it: Airbnb.com , Abritel.fr , Homeaway.com And Booking.com , finally. They haven't failed yet.
Now let's get to the point. Immediately open google.maps and a high-resolution map of Paris by district. Please note that the counties ( fr. - arrondissements) on the map diverge from the center like a snail, so sometimes the third joins the tenth, and the eighth joins the sixteenth. I personally love the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 15th districts. It seems to me that if you come to Paris for the first time (especially if it’s your first), this is the best environment in which you can understand and feel the city. But this is according to my personal feelings. Now let's take it in order. The main attractions of each district will be indicated in brackets below.
1st DISTRICT
(LOUVRE, GARDEN OF THE TUILERY, PLACE VENDOME, GARDEN OF THE PALE ROYAL, FORUM LE HALLES, MUSEUM OF ORANGERIE)
Again, it depends on who you want. But I wouldn’t recommend settling near the Louvre. This is not the Paris you want to return to for an atmosphere of relaxation and leisurely walks. On the other hand, the first district is slightly higher at the junction with the second - that’s a different story. There you will find Haussmannian buildings with lace balconies, and there is no such disco with tourists as next to the Tuileries. Try, perhaps, to avoid the area around les Halles - this is a shopping center under a huge pavilion (construction is still underway), a lot of shops around (sneakers, rapper clothes, tattoo parlors) and a black contingent of local residents. Personally, none of the above bothers me, I go there often, it’s one of the faces of Paris, and there’s nothing like that about it. But there are a lot of people there, a million bars, and quite noisy until late. So consider it.
2nd DISTRICT
(EXCHANGE, PASSAGES)
13th DISTRICT
(FRANCOIS MITERRAND NATIONAL LIBRARY, CHINAQUARTER)
So. It is better to stay no further than 10-11 districts, where hotel prices are reasonable and where it is easier to get to the main attractions. The closest ones are the Opera, Galeries Lafayette and Montmartre. There are a total of 20 arrondissements in Paris, but if you stay in a distant area, then a couple of hours on the train and metro will be provided for you. Why spend it on moving?
It is better to walk around the center of Paris. This is the only way to understand the spirit of this city, the tourist Mecca of Europe. To see how the French spend their free time, what they dress in, what rhythm they live in. Here, noisy intersections and shady alleys, cafes and museums amazingly alternate, so the walk will not be burdensome and will give you a lot of pictures (ticket 16 euros for adults and 8 euros for children).
In bad, foggy weather, it’s better not to take risks: you won’t see Paris from above.) But on a clear day it’s just a miracle! Standing on the second tier platform, you want to sing like Edith Piaf!
By the way. You need to check in advance whether the tourist site you have chosen is open on that day. In Paris, for some reason, each object has its own schedule. For example, the Louvre is closed on Tuesdays. The ticket price there is 15 euros, but even a whole day is not enough to see the Louvre and other palaces.
It is better to select one or two objects in advance, located close to each other, so as not to be scattered. For example, the Grevin wax museum (about 25 euros) and the famous Lafayette shopping gallery (free admission). The best place to buy souvenirs is near the Opera, where on the shelves there are a lot of little things with the symbols of Paris, from ladies' scarves to mugs and dolls. The cost of souvenirs is from one to one hundred euros. I don’t recommend purchasing small copies of the Eiffel Tower in the form of keychains from African-Americans: it’s a terribly bulky, inconvenient and unnecessary thing that costs 5-10 euros. Be careful when paying by card in small supermarkets: we had a couple of cases when the amount on the receipt and the card balance did not match, and we were unable to communicate with the cashier due to our lack of knowledge of the language.
By the way, almost all French people in Paris can speak English. And they are very, well, just very polite! If someone is rude to you, it is probably some kind of visitor, not a Parisian.
There are plenty of places to stop for lunch in the city. The average lunch is 15 euros, you can eat cheaper, you can eat more expensive. There is a cafe, for example, near the Arc de Triomphe, where the waiters speak Russian. Usually, even if you don’t know the language, you can order lunch based on a photo of the dish, simply by pointing your finger at it. We ordered, naturally, oysters (16 euros) and frog legs (18 euros) - where else can we try them if not in Paris? The oysters were in a wonderful creamy sauce, and the frog legs looked a little like chicken drumsticks.
The French love to sit on benches in gardens and boulevards for a long time and avoid busy tourist routes. Fortunately, the capital of France is literally surrounded by gardens. We visited the Luxembourg Gardens in the Saint-Germain quarter, which leaves a wonderful impression. Here you can take a nap and have a snack; it’s generally a very harmonious place: fountains, palaces, neatly trimmed bushes, sculptures... and most importantly, it’s open at any time of the year and free of charge.
But a lot has already been written about these attractions, but almost no one is looking for Russian Paris. And in vain. We were looking for traces of Russian Paris, the same one when the first wave of emigration lived there. The Sainte Genevieve des Bois cemetery, where there are more than 7 thousand Russian graves, best tells about this era. The town of Sainte Genevieve, not far from Paris, is very quiet. Deserted paths lead to the graves of Alexander Galich, poet Dmitry Merezhkovsky and his wife Zinaida Gippius, dancer Rudolf Nureyev and writer Viktor Nekrasov. The tiny Church of the Assumption here is like a piece of Russia itself.
Two more holy places for Russians in Paris are the Trinity Compound and the Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky. And the Temple of Alexander Nevsky (8th arrondissement, Daru Street) Andrei Tarkovsky and Bulat Okudzhava were buried here, Picasso was married here. The cathedral used to be the home of Russian emigration, but now people who come here are mostly residents of the USSR and Russia who settled in Paris. Often on its gates you can see advertisements for help and employment. There are no excursions here specifically for Russians. But you can contact parishioner Natasha through the ministers; she has lived in Paris for a long time and knows the topic well.
The St. Sergius Trinity Courtyard attracts with its intimacy; it seems to be lost among the Parisian streets. A wooden temple with many steps, lush greenery, and unearthly silence. When you feel uneasy about the life of Europe - self-sufficient, arrogant, prosperous - you can come here and visit your homeland. Entrance to all Orthodox churches is free.
