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](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Maps_of_Paris_1er_arrondissement?uselang=fr#/media/File:Paris_1er_arr_jms.gif)
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 a cheaper accommodation further away from the hyper centre of Paris!
Here is a map showing the nearest accommodation:
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 Place du Châtelet
- the Saint-Germain-l’Auxerrois church
- the Saint-Eustache church
- the Saint-Roch church
- the Musée de l’Orangerie >> Get your eTickets <<
Inspired? Pin it for later!
Our pages on the 1st ARRONDISSEMENT
Fountain of the Croix-du-Trahoir, Rue Saint-Honoré, Paris
Today the intersection of rue Saint-Honoré and rue de l’Arbre-Sec is part of one of the nicest parts of Paris.…
Beautiful photos of the Louvre at night
We published new photos of the Louvre taken at night on our flickr account. The…
The little secrets of Pont-Neuf, Paris’ oldest bridge
Despite its name the Pont-Neuf (literally New Bridge) is Paris’ oldest standing bridge. Spanning the…
What are the Bouquinistes of Paris?
The banks of the Seine would not be the same without the established Bouquinistes of…
Where to find the Texas Embassy in Paris?
Did you know that a carving on a façade indicates where the Texas Embassy in…
Discover the historic monument of Conciergerie in Paris
With its distinctive towers, the edifice on the Île de la Cité used to belong…
French elegance in Place de la Concorde, Paris
The majestic and impressive Place de la Concorde plays a great symbolic part along the prestigious Historical…
The Historical Axis of Paris seen from the Louvre
Last Saturday morning our little Aimée (2 yo) and I visited the Louvre. I had…
Explore the Île de la Cité in Paris
The ship-shaped island is the historical heart of Paris which was known as Lutetia (Lutèce) during…
Where to find the inverted pyramid of the Louvre, Paris
You may have thought that the Louvre Palace in Paris had only one glass pyramid.…
Conciergerie Clock, Paris
The beautiful gilded Conciergerie clock is hang on the Clock Tower of the Conciergerie. It is situated…
Is the Tuileries Garden in danger?
Each time we visit Paris, we always take a stroll through the Tuileries Garden. Starting…
What to see in the First Arrondissement of Paris?
The First arrondissement is home to one of the most famous monuments in Paris: the…
Discover the majestic Place de la Concorde in Paris
The majestic Place de la Concorde played an important part in French history. On many…
Jardin des Tuileries, Paris
From the Place du Carrousel, the Jardin des Tuileries (Tuileries Garden) offers an unbroken vista…
The paintings in the Musée de l’Orangerie, Paris
Situated in the Tuileries Garden near the Place de la Concorde, the Orangerie Museum contains…
Be stunned by the beauty of the Sainte-Chapelle, Paris
With its stunning stained-glass, the Sainte-Chapelle is gem of Gothic architecture in the heart of…
Amazing places to see on a Paris by night tour
Both in Winter or Summer, the City of lights stays lively all night long. You…
Place Dauphine, Paris
Place Dauphine is a small triangular square beautifully set in the Île de la Cité.…
That day when the glass pyramid of the Louvre disappeared!
How the glass pyramid of the Louvre disappeared? The offender is French street artist JR who…
Discover the Quais de la Seine in Paris
The banks of River Seine (Quais de la Seine) in Paris have been listed by Unesco as…
Place du Châtelet, Paris
Place du Châtelet is a public square that marks the border between the 1st and 4th…
Discover the Neo-classical Place Vendôme in Paris
The famous Place Vendôme in Paris’ First arrondissement ranks amongst France’s most beautiful squares. Located…
Fun Fair of the Tuileries in Paris
Set-up in the Tuileries garden for two months in July and August, the annual fun…
The Canopy of Les Halles
On Tuesday 5 April 2016 took place the inauguration of the new site of Les…
Explore the secretive Palais-Royal Garden
The garden of the Palais-Royal is the only garden in Paris classified as “Remarkable Garden” by…
Promenade across the Tuileries Garden in Paris
This past Sunday, as we wondered where to stroll in Paris, the Tuileries Garden came…
Discover the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel
The arc de triomphe du Carrousel is a triumphal arch completed by Napoleon in 1809.…
Boules-aux-Rats, Saint-Germain-l’Auxerrois church in Paris
There is a mystery that scholars and historians have not yet succeeded to resolve. Perched…
Discover the Louvre Palace, Paris
The Louvre Palace is “royal Paris”. A part of the French capital that no visitor should…
The Palais des Tuileries, in search of a missing Palace
The Palais des Tuileries (Tuileries Palace) is the former residence of the Kings and Queens of…
A Guide to the Historical Axis of Paris
You may know Paris for its cathedral Notre-Dame, the Eiffel Tower, its café culture and…
Discover the Palais-Royal in Paris
Despite its name, the Palais-Royal was not the official residence of the kings and queens…
The Ferris Wheel at Place de la Concorde
One of the most beautiful views of Paris at Christmas can be enjoyed from the big wheel…
An elephant head near Les Halles, Paris
How many people passing by the busy street of rue de la Cossonnerie actually know…
Discover the secretive Place de Valois in Paris
So you’re heading to the Palais Royal and its beautiful enclosed garden. Instead of entering…
Some links in this article are affiliate links and if you click and make a booking we receive a small amount of commission. It doesn’t cost you anything extra but it helps us keep the blog running and provide quality content for everyone to enjoy. Merci !
