Administrative division of Paris

The first 12 administrative districts

October 11, 1795 Paris was divided into 12 districts. They were numbered from west to east; counties 1 to 9 were on the right bank of the Seine, and from 10 to 12 on the left bank . Each district was divided into 4 quarters, maintaining the division of the city into 48 quarters, adopted in 1790.

Since 1800, by decision of Napoleon , 12 administrative districts of the city were subject to government orders.

Extension of Paris

During the reign of Louis Philippe , from 1841 to 1845, a new city wall was built, nicknamed the Thierskaya , which also placed many of the Paparis communes inside: Grenelle , Vaugirard , Bercy , Charonne , Belleville , La Ville , La Chapelle , Montmartre , Batignoli , Passy and Otoy . January 1, 1860 by decree of the next ruler, Napoleon III , these communes were formally annexed to the city, whose territory immediately increased 2.5 times, and the population exceeded 1 million. New territories and 12 old districts were transformed into the current 20.

The mayor of each district was appointed head of the French state and was elected from the largest taxpayers; He was engaged only in civil acts, military service, schools and maintaining electoral lists.

In accordance with the decree of November 3, 1859, Paris is divided into 20 municipal districts ^[2] , each with its own city hall. The counties in France are also divided into Lyon and Marseille . The smallest is the 2nd , 99 ha, the largest is the 15th , 850 ha. The population is concentrated mainly in the districts with modern housing and large parks - for example, in the 12th , 15th and 19th districts.

In accordance with the already mentioned decree of 1859 ^[2] , each of the municipal districts is divided into 4 quarters ( French quartier ). Thus, in Paris, 80 blocks:

• Champs Elysees ( VIII arrondissement ) - a space created in the 17th century as a park garden, gradually turned into an avenue stretching from Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe itself . One of the main attractions and at the same time a luxurious shopping avenue, is deservedly called the most beautiful avenue in the world.
• Montaigne Avenue (VIII arrondissement) - a continuation of the Champs Elysees, the center of expensive boutiques Chanel , Louis Vuitton (LVMH), Dior , Givenchy .
• Place de la Concorde (VIII arrondissement) - the very beginning of the Champs Elysees, known to historians as pl. Louis XV - the place where the guillotine once stood. Now in the center of the square is an Egyptian obelisk , the oldest monument in the city. Along its edges are two completely identical buildings: the one to the east, occupied by the French Ministry of the Navy, the other, to the west - the luxurious Hotel Crillon . The nearby Place Vendôme has become famous not only thanks to the fashionable Ritz and Hotel de Vendome hotels, but also thanks to jewelers who sold their fancy goods here. Many fashion designers consider it an honor to keep their salons here.
• Faubourg Saint Honore (VIII arrondissement) is one of the most prestigious places for fashion connoisseurs, where brands such as Hermès and Christian Lacroix rule.
• Opera ( IX district ) - the area around the Opera Garnier is built up with offices and giant supermarkets. Here is the retail giant Printemps (Vesna) and the Galeries Lafayette department store, as well as the Paris branch of financial monsters Crédit Lyonnais and American Express .
• Montmartre ( 18th arrondissement ) is a historic district around a high hill, on top of which is the Sacre Coeur Basilica . The whole past and present life of the region is imbued with the spirit of art, its small art cafes and art studios of famous masters are famous.
• Le Al ( district I ) was once the central meat and agricultural market, and in the late 1970s it was turned into a giant shopping center next to a large transport hub connecting RER regional roads with the city metro. The old buildings in 1971 were replaced by the grandiose underground complex Forum des Halles, on the surface of which only alleys and fountains are visible, and railway stations are located under its lower level. The central market, the largest wholesale market in Europe, was moved to the southern suburbs of Rungis .
• Mare ( District III and IV ) is a trendy area on the right bank. Being home to a large gay and Jewish community, it is a mixture of different cultures.
• Bastille Square (intersection of IV, XI , XII districts ) - a place where high-profile historical events unfolded, turning not only for the city, but for the whole country. This important role is now often confirmed by the political speeches that take place on it, for example, a demonstration of disagreement with the “First Hire Contract” on March 28, 2006.
• Latin Quarter ( District V and VI ). As early as the XII century, a scientific center began to develop here, although in those years it extended only from the Mober Square to the Sorbonne . Now, not only science is flourishing here, but also education: solid educational institutions are located here, a vibrant atmosphere reigns and a myriad of bistros not burdensome for the student work.
• Montparnasse ( XIV arrondissement ) - a place of residence of creative individuals, jokingly nicknamed the "Mount Parnassus", became famous for its abundance of art studios, musical theaters, art cafes.
• La Defense (occupying Courbevoie, Puteaux and Nanterre districts at a distance of 2.5 km from central Paris) is the most important suburban area of ​​Paris, one of the largest business centers in the world. Built up with tall business buildings (almost skyscrapers) around the main street, Défense, as it were, extends the historical axis passing through the Champs Elysees to the west. Its construction was initiated by the French government in 1958, now it has 3.5 million m² of office space, which makes it the first in the world among specially built business centers. One of the celebrities is the giant central arch Grande Arche , built on the same axis as the Arc de Triomphe and serves as a modern interpretation of this historical figure. However, the French Ministry of Transport was able to accommodate the new version.

• Turgot's Plan

• The official site of Paris (French )