11 districts of Paris to (re)discover for a weekend

The Belleville district

To start your walk in Belleville, don't miss the belvedere overlooking the park, from where you have a breathtaking view of Paris. This working-class neighbourhood is tending to become gentrified, and you can now stroll along the artist's studios of rue Denoyez, the typical bistros and the hidden courtyards.

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The Palais-Royal district

Just a stone's throw from the Louvre Museum, go back in time to the heart of the chic Palais-Royal district, which takes its name from the building constructed by Cardinal Richelieu in the mid 17th century. Today it houses the headquarters of the Conseil d'Etat and the Ministry of Culture, and tourists love to stroll the orderly streets of the garden, where the famous 'Buren columns' with their black and white stripes are located. Food lovers can enjoy Japanese specialities around the nearby Rue Sainte-Anne.

The Saint-Germain-des-Prés district

On the left bank, this is THE district for literary and artistic people. It is in this corner of the 6th arrondissement of Paris that you will find the places where the intellectuals of the 20th century met - from the Café de Flore to the Deux Magots, via the Lipp brasserie, which is listed as a historical monument. For a shopping break, many concept stores and other luxury boutiques are nestled in the district, not forgetting the majestic Bon Marché.

The Champs-Elysées district

The Champs-Elysées district is a real showcase for the capital, centred around the avenue of the same name, often called "the most beautiful avenue in the world". Between the Arc de Triomphe and the Place de la Concorde, there are some of Paris' most emblematic monuments, such as the Grand Palais, as well as world-famous tourist attractions such as the Lido cabaret.

Culture lovers will not be left out, with many museums in the area - the Palais de la Découverte, the Petit Palais, the Jacquemart-André museum and the Yves Saint-Laurent museum. Good ideas for things to do in Paris when it rains.

The Charonne district

A former suburb attached to Paris in 1860, the Charonne district, in the 20th arrondissement, is surely the most confidential of our selection. The district is home to the Saint-Germain-de-Charonne church, the only church in Paris, along with the Saint-Pierre de Montmartre church, to have kept its parish cemetery. For a green break, head for the Pierre-Emmanuel Natural Garden, not far from the Père-Lachaise cemetery.

The Marais district in Paris

This former marshy area - hence its name - is now the largest gay district in France. Between three major Parisian squares - the Bastille, the Republic and the Hôtel de Ville - you will find internationally renowned museums (the Picasso Museum, the Carnavalet Museum and Victor Hugo's house), the Rue des Rosiers, the epicentre of the Jewish quarter with its many restaurants, and the very upmarket Bazar de l'Hôtel de Ville (BHV).

The Latin Quarter

On the left bank of the Seine, in the 5th arrondissement, the Latin Quarter is as historic as it is academic. After visiting the Panthéon, take a stroll in the Luxembourg Gardens, amidst statues, fountains and ponds. At the end of the day, as students leave the Sorbonne or libraries such as Sainte-Geneviève, it is pleasant to meet around Place Saint-Michel or on the terraces of Place Saint-André-des-Arts.

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The Ménilmontant district

Sung by Charles Trénet, this former faubourian village between Belleville and the Père-Lachaise cemetery seduces with its bucolic alleys with their country airs in the heart of Paris. The singer Edith Piaf, in particular, took up residence in this corner of Paris, on rue Crespin du Gast to be precise. Her former flat is now a museum that can be visited by reservation.

The Batignolles district

In the far west of the capital is a residential area in full development, notably with the new eco-neighbourhood of Clichy-Batignolles, dominated by the Martin Luther King park. The recent arrival of the new Tribunal de Grande Instance, designed by Renzo Piano, has attracted many people to the area. In the heart of the district, the Square des Batignolles acts as a green lung, with the Place du Docteur Felix-Lobligeois not far away, where it is good to have a coffee. Several personalities such as Paul Verlaine and André Breton are buried in the intimate Batignolles cemetery.

The Invalides district

To the south of the Seine, near the Champ de Mars, the Invalides district spreads out around the eponymous Hôtel. This is where you can go and see Napoleon's tomb, among those of many famous officers, or visit the Army Museum. On sunny days, Parisians and tourists enjoy picnicking on the esplanade des Invalides... why not after discovering the Rodin Museum, housed in the Hôtel Biron, an 18th century mansion with particularly sumptuous gardens.

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The Butte Montmartre district

Dominated by the Sacré-Coeur basilica - which can be reached on foot for the bravest or by funicular for the fussiest - the Butte Montmartre district is certainly the one that makes you dream when you think of Paris. Go there to meet the caricaturists of the Place du Tertre and to discover the vineyards of Montmartre, before going back down to the more animated area around the Moulin Rouge. The Villa Léandre, with its small Anglo-Norman style houses, is also worth a visit!

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