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Last Updated: 17 April 2024

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The Seventh Arrondissement of Paris (le Septième) is home to some of the most famous landmarks of Paris, including the Eiffel Tower and Les Invalides.

 

A few words about the 7th arrondissement

7th arrondissement of Paris © ThePromenader - licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons
7th arrondissement of Paris © ThePromenader – licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons

Located on the Left Bank of River Seine between the 15th and 6th arrondissements, the Seventh arrondissement of Paris (le septième arrondissement) includes the upmarket neighbourhood of the Eiffel Tower and Les Invalides.

The 7th arrondissement is an aristocratic and religious district that holds the reins of French political power in a prestigious setting.

Since the 17th century, the 7th arrt has been home to the French upper class and aristocracy who built elegant townhouses (hôtels particuliers), particularly in the neighbourhood of Faubourg Saint-Germain. Today, these hôtels particuliers serve as head offices to a great number of French national institutions and foreign embassies.

Paris Walk 22 February 2015 19 copyright French Moments
In the 7th arrondissement of Paris © French Moments

 

The 4 districts of the 7th arrondissement

The 4 districts of the 7th arrt © Paris 16 - licence [CC BY-SA 4.0] from Wikimedia Commons
The 4 districts of the 7th arrt © Paris 16 – licence [CC BY-SA 4.0] from Wikimedia Commons

The 7th arrondissement is composed of four districts:

  • Saint-Thomas d’Aquin district occupies the east of the arrondissement and borders the Saint-Germain-des-Prés district. It is therefore called Faubourg Saint-Germain. This is where you will find prestigious schools: the Institute of Political Studies of Paris (Sciences Po), the Institute of High Oriental Studies, and Museums, the Orsay Museum being the most famous. The Congregation of the Sisters of Saint-Vincent de Paul and numerous associations bear witness to a past when the charity was in the hands of the Church.
  • Les Invalides district spreads out around the golden dome of the Saint Louis church. This district holds the keys to French political and international life with the presence of numerous ministries (Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and embassies.
  • Ecole Militaire district. In the south of the 7th arrondissement, the Ecole Militaire district owes its name to the prestigious institution that has been training French officers for three centuries. It is also home to the headquarters of UNESCO.
  • Gros Caillou district. This old village, which has remained commercial, popular and lively, is still home to many craftsmen. However, located east of the Eiffel Tower and the Champ de Mars, it is little known by tourists.

 

The 7th arrondissement: facts and figures

The Seventh arrondissement of Paris covers an area of 4.09 km2 with a population of 48,888 (2019). 

With the 6th, 8th and 16th arrondissements, the 7th is one of the most expensive real estate areas of Paris and one of the richest in terms of average income.

The minimum altitude is 27 m above sea level and the maximum altitude is 40 m. The Eiffel Tower (324 m) is the highest point in Paris.

 

Metro lines and stations in the 7th arrondissement

Several metro lines cross the 7th arrondissement:

  • 8 (stations: École Militaire, La Tour-Maubourg et Invalides)
  • 10 (stations: Ségur, Duroc, Vaneau et Sèvres – Babylone)
  • 12 (stations: Assemblée nationale, Solférino, Rue du Bac et Sèvres – Babylone)
  • 13 (stations: Invalides, Varenne, Saint-François-Xavier et Duroc)
  • RER C (stations: Champ de Mars – Tour Eiffel, Pont de l’Alma, Invalides, Musée d’Orsay)
7th arrondissement and metro © Hmaglione10- licence [CC BY-SA 4.0] from Wikimedia Commons
Metro lines and stations in the 7th arrondissement of Paris © Hmaglione10- licence [CC BY-SA 4.0] from Wikimedia Commons

Where to stay in the 7th 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 7th arrt. Depending on your budget, might want to find cheaper accommodation further away from the hyper centre of Paris!

Click on this link for a list of accommodations in the 7th arrondissement or browse the map below:


Booking.com

 

Shopping in the 7th arrondissement

Of all the arrondissements in Paris, the 7th is not the most commercial.

However, a few shopping streets and famous shops give a little life and animation:

  • Le Bon Marché. It is one of the big department stores in Paris. Le Bon Marché is home to a large number of very prestigious clothing and household names, such as Kenzo, Jacquard Français and Louis Vuitton.
  • Nearby, the Grande Epicerie du Bon Marché offers gourmets everything they need for a gourmet meal.
  • Rue Saint-Dominique with its neighbourhood atmosphere.
  • Rue Cler is a semi-pedestrian street with cafés, grocery shops, shops, restaurants and caterers. The street connects with the avenue de la Motte-Piquet where you can find several shops.
Rue Saint-Dominique, seventh arrondissement © French Moments
Rue Saint-Dominique and the Eiffel Tower © French Moments

 

Public institutions and organisations in the 7th arrt.

Palais Bourbon © French Moments
Palais Bourbon © French Moments

The 7th arrondissement is the location of many French government bodies, including the residence of the French Prime minister:

  • National Assembly or Assemblée Nationale (France’s Lower House of Parliament which seats at the Palais Bourbon)
  • Hôtel Matignon (residence of the Prime minister)
  • Ministries of Agriculture, of Foreign Affairs (Quai d’Orsay), of National Education, of Defence, of Labour, of Transport, of Health, of Overseas territories
  • the UNESCO headquarters

 

Main places of interest in the 7th arrt.

The 7th arrondissement includes the most famous Parisian landmark: the Eiffel Tower.

The Eiffel Tower in the 7th arrondissement © French Moments
The Eiffel Tower and Pont Alexandre III © French Moments

In addition, you will find many other places of interest such as the Hôtel des Invalides, the Champ de Mars, École Militaire, and Palais Bourbon. The arrondissement is also home to the most prestigious museums of France: the Musée d’Orsay, the Musée Rodin, and the Musée du quai Branly.

 

Churches in the 7th arrondissement

The 7th arrondissement includes some of Paris’ most famous churches:

  • Basilica of Sainte-Clotilde, a masterpiece of neo-Gothic art. Consecration in 1857.
  • Saint-François-Xavier, a neo-Renaissance and neo-classical church. Consecration in 1873.
  • Saint-Thomas-d’Aquin, church dating from 1683 in the classical style.
  • The ‘double church’ of Saint-Louis-des-Invalides in the Hôtel des Invalides. With its magnificent golden dome, it is in fact a double church. The first is known as the “soldiers’ cathedral”. The second one houses the tomb of Napoleon.
  • The Russian Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Trinity (inauguration on 19 March 2016). It is topped by five traditional bulbous bell towers made of composite material coated with matte gold, and an Orthodox cross.
The Dome church of the Hôtel des Invalides seen from Place Vauban Paris © French Moments
The Dome Church of the Hôtel des Invalides, Paris © French Moments

 

Parks and public gardens in the 7th arrt.

With the exception of the Champ de Mars or the vast grassy Esplanade des Invalides, the 7th arrondissement is full of small parks, squares and gardens that are rarely visited and almost unknown to tourists and even to Parisians.

Head to the pretty Square Roger-Stéphane, the garden of the Oudinot clinic, the Square Denys-Bühler and the Catherine-Labouré garden. These green gems never suffer from a lack of peace and quiet!

Champ de Mars, seventh arrondissement of Paris © French Moments
Champ de Mars in June © French Moments

In addition, for those who simply prefer to stroll the streets, the seventh arrondissement also provides an ideal setting. Between its large tree-lined avenues, its buildings with impressive architecture, its majestic bridges… there is a lot to discover while strolling from the Eiffel Tower to the Invalides!

Champ de Mars Paris June 2015 25 © French Moments
An alley in the Champ de Mars © French Moments

 

List of landmarks in the Seventh arrondissement of Paris

Here’s a list of major places of interest make the 7th arrt:

  • Eiffel Tower (la Tour Eiffel)
  • Champ de Mars (public par)
  • École Militaire
  • Quai Branly museum
  • Esplanade des Invalides
  • Hôtel des Invalides
  • Pont Alexandre III
  • Rodin museum
  • Palais Bourbon (where the National Assembly meets)
  • Sainte-Clotilde basilica
  • Musée d’Orsay
  • Hôtel de Salm (or Palais de la Légion d’Honneur which houses the Musée national de la Légion d’Honneur et des Ordres de Chevalerie)
  • Léopold-Sédar-Senghor footbridge (formerly Solférino)
The Hôtel des Invalides, Paris © French Moments
The Esplanade des Invalides, Paris © French Moments
Orsay Museum, Paris © French Moments
Orsay Museum, Paris © French Moments
The Dome church of Les Invalides © French Moments
The Dome church of Les Invalides seen from avenue de Tourville © French Moments
Ecole Militaire and Champ de Mars in the seventh arrondissement © French Moments
The Ecole Militaire and Champ de Mars © French Moments
Eiffel Tower, Paris © French Moments
The Champ de Mars from the top of the Eiffel Tower © French Moments
Rue de l'Université in the Seventh arrondissement © French Moments
Rue de l’Université in the Seventh arrondissement © French Moments
Winter in Paris © French Moments
Winter in Paris (Square Rapp) © French Moments
Winter walk from the Eiffel Tower to the Louvre © French Moments
Fountain of Mars, Rue Saint-Dominique, Paris © French Moments
Paris' most beautiful doors - seventh arrondissement © French Moments
Door at 20 avenue Rapp, 7th arrondissement of Paris © French Moments

 

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About the author

Pierre is a French/Australian who is passionate about France and its culture. He grew up in France and Germany and has also lived in Australia and England. He has a background teaching French, Economics and Current Affairs, and holds a Master of Translating and Interpreting English-French with the degree of Master of International Relations, and a degree of Economics and Management. Pierre is the author of Discovery Courses and books about France.

Like it? Leave a comment!

  • This is wonderful! I can’t wait until the world is free again and I can return to Paris. You do a fantastic job of describing the areas and things to do. You cover so many different enjoyable things to do. I’m hoping to return in the fall. Thank you for keeping my hopes, dreams and memories alive.

  • Loved your article about the 7th, Pierre. As usual, you've done so much research and have shown us much detail. I especially love the area around the rue St. Dominique and the beautiful art nouveau in that area as well as the view of the Eiffel Tower from rue de l'Université. Merci for another great article!

  • Fantastic post! I’m always looking for new reasons to explore the city, and this list has given me some great ideas. Can’t wait to check out the Musée d’Orsay and the belle époque architecture. Thanks for sharing!

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