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 few historic churches and palaces, upscale squares and the bustling shopping precinct of Les Halles.
A few words about the 1st arrondissement
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 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.
Public institutions in the 1st arrondissement
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
The 1st arrondissement includes some of Paris’ premier monuments and sites. The Historical Axis (Voie Triomphale) starts from the Cour Napoléon in the Louvre.
The main places of interest in the 1st arrondissement are:
- the Louvre
- the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel
- the Tuileries Garden
- the Palais Royal
- the Conciergerie
- the Sainte-Chapelle
- the Banks of River Seine
- the Pont Neuf
- the Pont des Arts
- the Place Dauphine
- the Place Vendôme
- the Place du Châtelet
- the Saint-Germain-l’Auxerrois church
- the Saint-Eustache church
- the Saint-Roch church
- the Musée de l’Orangerie
Our pages on the 1st ARRONDISSEMENT
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