01e Arrondissement Town Guide

This is the geographical centre of Paris, the main attractions of the Right Bank are the Bourse du Commerce, Hotel de Toulouse, Conciererie, Sainte-Chapelle, Palais de Justice, Palais du Louvre, Jardin des Tuileries, Palais Royal, Comedie Francaise,Jeu de Paume, the Place Vendome  and Les Halles.
"I never knew what a palace was until I had a glimpse of the Louvre," wrote Nathaniel Hawthorne. One of the world's greatest art museums (some say the greatest), the Louvre, once a royal residence, still lures all visitors to Paris to the 1st arrondissement. Here are many of the elegant addresses of Paris, the rue de Rivoli, with the Jeu de Paume and Orangerie on raised terraces.

Rue de Rivoli

On the corner of the Rue de Richelieu and the Rue de Rivoli is the Comedie Francaise, the time honoured setting for performances of classical French drama. This famous theatre, home to a drama troupe that has been performing since 1680, routinely hosts classical French plays by Molière, Racine, Corneille and others. To the right of the theatre is the unobtrusive entrance of the Palais Royal.Its courtyard is a surprising oasis in the heart of the city.

Jardin des Tuileries

Walk through its Jardin des Tuileries, the most formal garden in Paris (originally laid out by Le Nôtre, gardener to Louis XIV). Pause to take in the classic beauty of the Place Vendôme,Mansart’s perfectly proportioned example of 17th century urban architecture shines in all its golden stone splendor., home of the deluxe Ritz Hotel. Napoleon had made the central column in the square from the melted bronze of 1,200 cannons captured at the battle at the battle of Austerlitz in 1805. Jewellers and art dealers are in plentiful supply, and memories of Chopin are evoked on the square where he died.

Les Halles

Zola's "the belly of Paris" (Les Halles) is no longer the food and meat market of Paris (traders moved to a new, more accessible suburb, Rungis), but is today Forum des Halles, a centre for shopping, entertainment, and culture.

'Must do'

Pirouette on the ‘dead centre of Paris’; a small, circular, bronze plaque, usually obscured by tourists, outside the landmark of Notre Dame on Ile de la Cité.

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