Property Finder Paris: Houses and Apartments

The historic heart of Paris, home to Les Halles, and the oldest quarter of the City of Light. The location that has it all. If retail therapy is your thing, then look no further, because Place Vendome, rue Saint-Honore, les Halles are within shopping distance, presenting you with a real embarrassment of riches. For a cultural experience a la Francaise, the area has a plethora of museums (the Louvre), and theatres like the Comedie Française, le Jeu de Paume, making it the perfect place for a pied-a-terre. Last but not the least, imagine jogging through the Jardin des Tuileries, also an ideal place for early morning yoga. Fresh air in the heart of Paris – can it get any better?

The 2nd arrondissement, a unique crossroads where bankers and confectioners happily meet. The famous covered passages built in the 19th century make walks a pleasure, no matter the weather. A leisurely stroll down Passage Choiseul, or des Panoramas, the grand Cerf, not forgetting the Galerie Vivienne will open your senses to restaurants and chic boutiques. Explore THE shopping street, la rue Montorgeuil and treat yourself to the delights of shopping and enjoy a relaxed meal at one of the many restaurants around.

The place where art, artists, and artisans meet and create. This Boho quarter covers not just the rue de la Bretagne with its palette of culinary pleasures and the Enfants Rouges market, but also the rue de la Vieille Temple with its quaint, unusual boutiques. A fantastic feast for the all the senses with the nearby Picasso Museum. The original quarter of art and art-related professions; where the creators of gold and silver jewelry, ironmongers, worked together. The area attracts creative minds and is home to numerous artists and cinema personalities.

At the heart of the Marais, with the rue des Francs Bourgeois, the beautiful Place des Vosges and the Saint Paul village come alive with art galleries, inviting food shops, and let’s not forget, the Jewish quarter with their famous falafels on rue des Rosiers. This vivacious quarter has everything you need, including shops that are open on Sundays (rare in France, not just Paris!) and hosts BHV and the Town Hall. Attending a concert on the Ile Saint-Louis or visiting the Notre Dame Cathedral on the Ile de la Cité are a brief stroll in this beautiful neighbourhood.

Famously known as the Latin Quarter, this is the oldest quarter in Paris. Among its shining stars are France’s most prestigious high schools, Henri IV and Louis Le Grand and universities, the Sorbonne and Descartes, with the Panthéon being the place for great thinkers of the nation. This unusual quarter hosts the Luxembourg gardens and the lovely Jardin des Plantes, making it a wonderful place to call home for families and students alike. Rue Mouffetard with its charming street market, bursting with fresh produce, local cheeses, and colourful stalls, is especially lively on Sunday mornings, making it a memorable, Parisian family treat.

St. Germain des Prés, the Paris of movie stars, intellectuals, immortalized on screen and literature. The epitome of Parisian elegance, it is the symbol of French intellectualism and culture. The place Saint Sulpice, the spiritual beauty of the church Saint Germain des Prés, Place Furstenberg and the boulevard Saint Germain, have seen the footsteps of writers, philosophers, poets, and politicians. Simone de Beauvoir and Jean-Paul Sartre shared many hours at the Café de Flore and les Deux Magots. The terraces of these quintessentially Parisian cafes have been witness to shaping history and influencing 21st century thinkers and artists, many of whom performed here. Given its history, Saint-Germain des Prés has earned its reputation as being one of the most expensive quarters in Paris.

The 7th district is an oasis of calm in a frenetic city. Glorious green spaces (Champ de Mars, Esplanade des Invalides, Breteuil) add to the sense of peace and freshness. Genteel, with refined shops on rue Cler for your everyday needs. The Grande Epicerie belonging to the legendary Bon Marché store carries every global brand, for home decoration and your wardrobe. This haven, with its beauty and convenience is one of the city’s most expensive quarters; and gives its residents a good life.

The world’s most beautiful boulevard, the Champs Elysees, lives here. French icons -Arc de Triomphe, the Presidential Elysées Palace, the Grand Palace- are in the 8th district. Luxury and elegance are the hallmark of the couture boutiques on avenue Montaigne, the grand stores on Boulevard Haussman and the fashionable “see and be seen” hotels in the 8th district. Boulevard Haussman is the stuff of dreams, for Parisians and tourists alike. Given its surroundings, the quarter is particularly popular with businesses and offices during work hours and is less family-oriented than the 16th district.

A Boho chic quarter that’s the epicenter of culture, cuisine and welcomes residents and visitors with equal charm. The opera Garnier thrives alongside the Mogador theatre, and concerts rock the Olympia whilst the Casino the Paris keeps the money spinning. The beauty of this quarter lies in its charm as a village in the heart of Paris, while still being hip and connected to art, music, cinema, and home to restaurants and boutiques of renown. For the gourmet and gourmand, the rue de Martyrs has merchants with something for every taste. All this surrounded by refreshing green spaces.

Welcome to the warehouse district of Paris! The quarter that keeps the Bohos and the bourgeois happy. The 10th district, a hub of activity, with 2 main stations -Gare de l’Est and Gare du Nord- making it the perfect access point to travel, for business or pleasure. Amongst its hidden treasures and buzzing exterior are covered passages like Passage Brady, Passage Prado, and Canal St. Martin- the favourite meeting place for Parisian underground youth. This is the district for diverse architecture and Parisian lofts for the price of a king’s ransom. A vibrant nightlife makes the 10th the quarter to be.

Away from the tourists, lies the heart of Revolutionary Paris, the 11^th district. This district bore witness to the great labour revolts of the 19^th century. Previously home to workers, it now has well-known artisanal enterprises and unique residences. The quarter is a wonderful blend of little homes, warehouses, grand buildings, and workshops transformed into stunning lofts. Nestled between the Place de la Republique and Place de la Bastille on the west and Belleville and Nation on the east, the 11^th district serves up an array of diverse dining and shopping opportunities, for all tastes. And for a little evening entertainment, the rue de la Roquette with its proximity to Opera Bastille, doesn’t disappoint.

Its closeness to the Vincennes Forest and dotted with numerous green spaces, the 12^th district remains a refreshing residential quarter. Bercy with its new, modern buildings is the perfect home for families. For your dining and shopping pleasure, between the Alligre market and the Trousseau Square are shops and restaurants that remain a gastronome’s delight. Having the Gare de Lyon nearby makes travel an easy ride, to work or for pleasure.

The 13^th district is the site of the National Library (François Mitterand), La Butte-aux-Cailles, and Paris’s Chinatown. A high energy district where new construction rubs shoulders with old, it attracts numerous startups (Station F) and provides young people looking to create and innovate with a home. The place to live, build, eat, and watch spectacular shows by The Cite de la Mode et du Design (Fashion and Design) on the quays.

This is the Montparnasse Quarter – from the Tower, the station to the Cemetery. It is also home to the famed Catacombs, to rue Daguerre with its little cafes and shops -so reminiscent of rue Montorgueil in the 3^rd district. Largely residential, this is the district where people live well and in harmony. And for an oasis of green, there’s the Montsouris Park.

The largest district in Paris also the most populous, is a blend of office and residential space. Of additional interest is the abundance of green spaces including the beautiful Parc Andre-Citroën. For a different cultural experience, the 15^th district offers the Pasteur Museum, the museum of the Post and the unusual City of Artists. To top it all, the world-famous Parc des Expositions, the largest event venue in Paris is nearby, allowing for even more entertainment opportunities. And excellent place to raise a family.

Known to the tourists for the Trocadero and the Boulogne Forest, the 16th district also houses the largest number of international embassies and consulates in Paris. Tennis fans know it for the Roland Garros stadium and the sporting world knows it for the world-famous Parc des Princes, the scene of major sporting events. If your tastes run towards unique, beautiful Hausmann-style architecture, calm and safety, then the 16th district is your new home.

The parks (Martin Luther King and Monceau) and the numerous tree-lined areas make the much wanted 17^th district the green haven of Paris, where people can breathe glorious fresh air in an urban locale. This quarter is uniquely carved into 4 areas: Ternes, la Plaine-Monceau, the Batignolles, and the Epinettes; the last being the most popular. Situated to the west of the “Embassy” district, it is a quiet residential area, dotted regularly with smaller parks and greenery. The rue de Levis is most sought after given its blend of homes and shopping.

It’s impossible to think of the 18^th without thinking of Monmartre of the artists or its crowning glory, the Sacré Coeur. Hate it or love it, but you can’t be indifferent to it. Immensely popular and globally known thanks to its history, this district is the poster child of gentrification. A quaint mix of quarters, chic, bourgeois, and bohemian, like Jules Joffrin, very touristy like Abbesses or populous like Barbès and La Chapelle. Overall, a great harmony of residences and touristy, with a lively community.

What makes the 19^th district desirable? It’s the area where the prices have been slow to rise and where it’s still possible to still make great deals on property purchases. The most sought-after micro quarters are Buttes-Chaumont, Bourgeois, and Jourdain. This area shows the strongest movement of people in the capital because it is still relatively affordable and financially accessible to a variety of budgets. There are lovely little streets with older homes in Mouzaïa for example. The well-developed area around the Parc de la Villette, a popular and well-known cultural center makes the 19th an attractive place to invest and live.

The 20^th district recalls the famous Père Lachaise Cemetery, popular with tourists and locals. History is buried there, and everyone comes to pay their respects. A populous busy sector, it is home to the smaller, underground concert halls and cafes, where art and indie music thrive. After all, Menilmontant was where the famous “Sparrow”, Edith Piaf lived and sang. The concern for this eastern corner of Paris is that it is less accessible and not well served by public transport. The smallest Metro 3bis comes here. What makes the 20^th district popular are the green spaces and the way vintage buildings rub shoulders with smaller city houses and new buildings. It is also home to a diverse array of neighborhood restaurants and cafes, that serve students and suited businessmen, locals and tourists.