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 Getting
around
 Paris
has a roughly circular shape, the centre and origin of which is the Île
de la Cité. The former Lutetia, now Paris, grew concentrically
around the « île », and the Seine, which flows from
east to west, cuts the city into two almost equal halves. The right bank
refers to the northern half of the city. The official outer limits of
the city are the various gates of Paris. It would hardly be possible to
see the end of the urban fabric if it wasn't for the communication routes
of the Boulevards Extérieurs and of the « périphérique
» (ring road) which surround the city. Paris does not have a north-south
axis as clear as that of the Seine.
To get around in the city, you will need a general map, which includes
a plan of the metro (underground), and which can easily be found at all
tourist information points. We will sometimes refer to the Quartiers (Neighbourhoods),
quite a vague idea generally focusing on a geographical landmark, which
may be a building or monument, the Opera, the Bourse (Stock
Exchange), the Palais Royal, the Louvre,… or a square:
les Invalides, Concorde, l'Étoile, etc...
This is the convention generally used by the omnipresent road signs. We
can also use the names of the metro stations, which indicate smaller reference
areas.
However, we have organized this guide by « arrondissements »
(districts), the official administrative division (which is almost 100%
the same as the postal districts). The arrondissements are like small
towns within the city, with their own atmosphere.
Each of you reading this will adopt your own route, depending on the time
that you have available to discover the city, on your interests and your
obligations. In the description of each arrondissement, you will find
walks, cultural Paris and shopping Paris. We hope you enjoy discovering
Paris !!!
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