Thursday 9 February 2012

Parisian Arrondissements

Today, here at Albany Creek in Brisbane it's 30 degrees C.  In Paris, it's -7 degrees.........I really can't imagine how cold that is.

But in just 7 weeks we'll be bunkering down in 'l'appartement trés charmant' in Paris. So...where is l'appartement?  Well, before we get to that I thought you might be interested to know the arrondissements' orginal old names - some of them are trés cute!
  1. 1st................Louvre
  2. 2nd..............Bourse
  3. 3rd...............Temple
  4. 4th...............Hotel-de-Ville
  5. 5th...............Pantheon
  6. 6th...............Luxembourg
  7. 7th...............Palais-Bourbon
  8. 8th...............Elysee
  9. 9th...............Opera
  10. 10th.............Enclos-St-Laurent
  11. 11th.............Popincourt
  12. 12th.............Reuilly
  13. 13th.............Gobelins
  14. 14th.............Observatoire
  15. 15th.............Vaugirard
  16. 16th.............Passy
  17. 17th.............Batignolles-Monceau
  18. 18th.............Butte-Montmartre
  19. 19th.............Buttes-Chaumont
  20. 20th.............Menilmontant
I haven't visited all of these arrondissements............but they're all on my Paris 'to do' list.
1st arrondissement - the Louvre...will have to find a way to jump that long queue 
1st arrondissement - a stroll through the garden of the Palais Royal is divine.
2nd arrondissement - Galerie Vivienne and home to a really fab wine bar
3rd arrondissement - courtyard of the Musée Carnavalet
4th arrondissement - the medieval Marais district
5th arrondissement - just strolling around
6th arrondissement - Jardin du Luxembourg
6th arrondissement - soaking up the sun in the Jardin du Luxembourg
7th arrondissement - what is that in the background?
7th arrondissement - guess where?
One of our favourite spots in the 7th arr.
9th arrondissement - le fleuriste on rue des Martyrs
And this is where we'll be living this year....the lower part of the 9th arrondissement.
After lots and lots of searching, we settled on a lovely apartment in the lower 9th arrondissement, known at St Georges.  The apartment ticked all our boxes - Haussmannian building, parquet timber floors, fireplace, large windows allowing lots of light into the apartment, 3rd floor with lift, lovely view of the neighbourhood, 80 square metres and a modern, well equipped kitchen.

This quartier is quiet, safe, central with great Metro connections and gorgeous architecture.  

Did you know that this piece of central Paris was known as La Nouvelle Athenes during the 19th century for its classically styled architecture and the Grecophilia of the many artists and writers who lived here?

Just down from l'appartment is the Musée Gustave Moreau and around the corner is the lovely Musée de la Vie Romantique.  And of course, there is the great Opera Garnier in this quartier.....the place for the world's best in music and opera, and now the home of ballet and dance centre.  A visit to this wondrous building, which is also the site of Chagall's colossal ceiling in the main hall, is on the top of my Paris 'must do' list.

There are fab restaurants close-by and rue des Martyrs, our local street market, is only a short stroll away.  

So.......this will be our home for most of this year and into 2013......for April and May however, we'll be in Montmartre as the St Georges apartment was already rented.  Never mind.....we'll get to experience two Parisian quartiers each with their own charm and style.  I'll tell you more about Montmartre once we arrive on 1 April.

Now only 51 sleeps to go!

You might also like my post on:
http://parisallons-y.blogspot.com.au/2012/01/just-beginning.html






6 comments:

  1. You are so very lucky to be able to live this dream. It is something that I've fantasized about for a while. I'm feeling a bit muddled - what district is the Marais in? I don't see it on your list but it is just a beautiful part of Paris.

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    1. Thanks Ingrid. Yes, I know I am very, very lucky to be able to do this. It is something we have worked for and planned for many years. The names for the Marais (3rd arr. and 4th arr.) are interesting aren't they - Temple and Hotel de Ville. Obviously names from a bygone era.......I wonder if anybody can tell us the history of these names.

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  2. Hi from Townsville, Robyn

    Just loving the photos and stories - looking forward to catching up in between those 51 sleeps!!!

    Christine

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    1. Hi Chris! Ready to make the lunch reservation at any time - let's set the date. A bientot.

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  3. You're in such a great spot Robyn! Imaging those freezing days when all you have to do is pop out and over to L'Opera and gaze up at the spectacula Chagall ceiling because its too cold out!!! Or 'hang' at the Musee Gustave Moreau... oh what bliss. So happy for you. Truly a brilliant dream to live for an artist.
    Soula

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    1. I can hardly believe it myself Soula. So near to all my favourites...I know it will be inspiring. A bientot.

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