What to see in the First Arrondissement of Paris?

The First arrondissement is home to one of the most famous monuments in Paris: the Louvre. Mostly located on the Right bank of River Seine, it includes the Tuileries Garden, a number of historic churches and palaces, upscale squares and the bustling shopping precinct of Les Halles.

A few words about the 1st arrondissement

1st arrondissement of Paris © ThePromenader – licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons

The First arrondissement of Paris (le premier arrondissement) is situated on the right bank of River Seine and also includes the western end of the Île de la Cité.

It is one of the smallest arrondissements of Paris, covering an area of 1.83 km2 with a population of 17,614 (2009 census). The district is one of the most active for business as much of its area is dedicated to tourism, business and administration.

The Historical Axis of Paris seen from the Louvre © French Moments

The 1st arrondissement is also one of the oldest in the French capital and was once the seat of royal power in Paris. The area contains many important monuments such as the Louvre palace, the Conciergerie and the Sainte-Chapelle.

At the centre of the district are Les Halles, the former place for the large central wholesale marketplace which was moved to Rungis in 1971 and replaced with the Forum des Halles, a modern and underground shopping mall.

Where to stay in the 1st arrondissement?

Hotels in Paris vary from stunning luxurious places like the Ritz and the Meurice to much simpler hotels in charming older parts of the city. However, due to its central location, you will find the level of prices of all types of accommodation quite high in the 1st arrondissement. Depending on your budget, might want to find cheaper accommodation further away from the hyper centre of Paris!

Here is a map showing the nearest accommodation:

Booking.com

Public institutions in the 1st arrondissement

Cour d’honneur of the Palais Royal © French Moments

Many public institutions have their seat in the 1st arrt:

• the Conseil Constitutionnel (Constitutional Council)
• the Conseil d’État (Council of State)
• the Cour des Comptes (Court of Audit)
• the Ministère de la Justice (Ministry of Justice)
• the Palais de la Justice (Courthouse)
• the Banque de France (France’s central bank)

Main places of interest in the 1st arrondissement

Autumn in France by the Louvre in Paris © French Moments

The 1st arrondissement includes some of Paris’ premier monuments and sites. The Historical Axis (Voie Triomphale) starts from the Cour Napoléon in the Louvre and crosses the Tuileries garden on its way to the Arc de Triomphe and La Défense.

The main places of interest in the 1st arrondissement are:

• the Louvre >> Book your guided visit in English of the Louvre museum’s highlights <<
• the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel
• the Tuileries Garden
• the Palais Royal
• the Conciergerie and the Sainte-Chapelle >> Get your Priority Entrance eTickets <<
• the Banks of River Seine
• the Pont Neuf
• the Pont des Arts
• the Place Dauphine
• the Place Vendôme
• the Saint-Germain-l’Auxerrois church 
• the Place du Châtelet
• the Saint-Eustache church
• the Saint-Roch church
• the Musée de l’Orangerie >> Get your eTickets <<

Saint-Eustache church viewed from the Canopy of Les Halles, Paris © French Moments

The banks of the River Seine, Paris in Autumn © French Moments

Allée du Bord de Seine Tuileries Garden, Paris © French Moments

Quais de la Seine, Paris © French Moments

The gardens of Palais-Royal, Paris © French Moments

Place Dauphine, Paris © French Moments

Ferris Wheel of Paris © French Moments

The Inverted Pyramid of the Louvre, Paris © French Moments

The Glass Pyramid of the Louvre, Paris © French Moments

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