Street signs

[Penny]

I've noticed no one has ever mentioned this.
Street signs i.e Rue Berri are about 20 feet up on the side of building(s) at corners. no numbers sequence though you're own your own finding the building number.
I had forgotten that and on my recent visit I was like "where are the signs" ah, yes, look up!

[Becky (Berkeleytravelers)]

Thanks Penny - a good tip for visitors. The reason there are no inclusive numbers, I suspect, is that they often don't match up from one side of the street to the other!

Another tip about street signs: it's not unusual for a street that appears to be continuous to change names after a few blocks -- sometimes several times! For instance, rue Jacob (in the 6th), which starts at rue de Seine, becomes rue de l'Universite after several blocks. This phenomenon is particularly apparent along the Seine on the Left Bank, where the street has many different names (because each section was identified by the quai below).

[Happygoin]

You know what completely threw me on my first trip to Paris? That rue St. Honore changes to rue Faubourg St. Honore about halfway up. The Maison du Chocolat was a must-see (up there on the list with the Eiffel Tower) for my sister. We walked and scratched our heads and consulted the map and walked some more. We finally realized. It was a good lesson in Paris road signs.

[Truffaut]

The lowest numbers are closest to the Seine. One side of the street will always be even and the other odd. You're often better off walking on the OPPOSITE side of the street when you're looking for a specific address, because it is sometimes hard to see the numbers if your under them instead of across from them.

[GitteK]

If I may add to Master Truffaut's post:
Yes, the numbers start from the Seine, but only when we are talking about streets that go north/south.
Streets that go east/west are numbered according to the stream of the Seine, that is: the lowest numbers to the east, highest numbers to the west.
E.g. the lowest numbers on Rue de Rivoli would be in the Marais end - the highest numbers in the Concorde end.

Odd numbers are on your left hand side, even numbers are on your right hand side - following the same principles as above:
* north/south: turn your back to the Seine. Rive Droite => look
north. Rive Gauche => look south.
* east/west: face to the west with your back to the east. Thumb rule => face turned in the direction of the E.T.

So knowing all this you can in fact deduct, Sherlock Holmes-wise, the directions. If you exit a metro station and don't know which way to go (it always happens to me on Les Grands Boulevards), just look up at the nearest housenumber ! So, if you have the even numbers on your right hand side on Les Grands Boulevards, you are heading towards Galeries Lafayette and further out: Arc de Triomphe !

And then again - who really cares, as there are wonderful experiences to be had, no matter where you end up !!

[Truffaut]

I should also add that the truly indispensable L'Indispensable has street numbers printed for every street in the map. It's enormously helpful when trying to locate a specific address that you're not familiar with .

[Becky (Berkeleytravelers)]

Gitte - thanks for the directional information/tips! It took me the longest time to get that right, because the Seine overall flows south to north, but at the point it goes through Paris it is making a bend so my mind just could not get past thinking that the river was the north/south axis. Also, I had not noticed the direction of the numbering on streets parallel to the Seine (although it certainly makes sense). Thanks again!

[goldenmama]

Happygoin, we took that same "where the heck is it" tour when searching for La Maison du Chocolat! It sure was worth it, though. ;D

[Shoesy]

Gitte - I have just exalted you for that north, south, east, west post. Great info. - thanks. ;D

[kasthor]

While Gittes description is very detailed, it is not quite correct.

The point zero (so to speak) in every french city is the city hall, la mairie, in Paris the house numbers start counting there, it makes it easier on a map than finding out wich direction the river streams. Rue du Faubourg St Antoine for example which starts at Bastille and goes pretty much E-W has its number "1" at the corner of place de la bastille.

So Gittes description is correct as long as you are West of the Mairie, it is the opposite when you are East of it.

Rue de Rivoli is one exception since it goes both sides of the mairie.

In the little park next to Notre Dame you can find the original point "zero" when churches were the center of the world. (I think though it is still used for calculating distances from and to Paris)

edit: even I get confused by all the EAST/WEST/NORTH/SOUTH thingies...

[GitteK]

Oh, my goodness........

>>deep sigh<<

I suppose the best you can do is to drop your confused self on to the nearest café chair and remain put there for the rest of your stay..... ....... when it's time to go home, have the waiter call a taxi and then show the taximan a piece of paper saying: "Aéroport, VITE !!"
;D

It's a jungle out there....

[Truffaut]

kasthor said:

edit: even I get confused by all the EAST/WEST/NORTH/SOUTH thingies...

All the more reason for people to carry around L'Indispensible with the address numbers printed on them!

[Penny]

Truffant-
question re L'Indispensable.
Is that the actual/complete name.
Is it entirely in French or is it available in English?
Is it a book or map, or both?
where can we find?
stateside or only in France?
Do you know if available on Amazon or in store at Barnes & Noble?
because I definitely could have used this trying to find Musee Nissim de Camondo
My feet were like a little kid on a road trip "are we there yet"? upside I did find a large Monoprix and got my Grand Mariner at a very, very reasonable price and a couple of other things I didn't know I was looking for

[GitteK]

Penny
It is a small booklet which comes in 2 versions, with or without suburbs. I have both - the suburb version is heavier to carry around, and you don't really need many suburbs, apart from St. Denis.

The version without the suburbs is 12 x 18 cm, and is called
"PARIS PRATIQUE PAR ARRONDISSEMENT" - L'INDISPENSABLE

It contains maps of all 20 arrondissements, plus metro plan, RER plan, bus plan, map of Bois de Boulogne, Bois de Vincennes and La Défense. PLUS a topdollar precise, correct street index - L'Indispensable is simply THE map of Paris.

In one of the first pages all the words are listed in French. English, Spanish, German and Italian.

You can order it at www.fnac.fr - type "Paris Pratique par arrondissement" in the blank search-field, called Rechercher.

It costs 4.66 euros. I think I paid 5 euros for it in the bookshop.

Then you click on "Ajouter au panier" - and then "Poursuivre ma commande".

That's as long as I can take you - but you are welcome to contact me, if you start ordering and are in doubt of what to do next.

ps. you can also buy it with www.amazon.fr

[Truffaut]

It comes in several different sizes, too. I carry around the smallest version (as do most Parisians I see), but it is extremely difficult to see. There are at least two larger sizes, one of which is still portable. Gitte's right about the title "L'Indispensible Plan de Paris par arrondissement".

[Penny]

LOL I think what I already have is just a different version. Red coverage (2000) Paris par Arrondissement.(cover wording totally in French), Editions Coutarel, (publisher?) I see from Amazon the one you and Gitte are referring to has L'Indispensible on cover. Mine is very hard to read also, and always seems what I am looking for is on the seam. didn't realize the numbers above the street name were the block numbers (I was trying so hard to find the street itself).
and I found a typo in my version. Rue de Berri is shown as Rue de Berry on the map. I have a magnicard I'll have to include in my "must take" list.
BTW on Amazon they have a 1965 Edition for $40.

[GitteK]

Penny - the version I bought in Paris this summer is perfectly readable - and still handy to carry in your handbag. The "black" version with the suburbs is smaller, must be the one Tryffaut is referring to, and yes, for that you need a magnifying glass ! OR be very shortsighted, as I am....

[geordy]

Mine has a green cover and is called Paris Par Arrondissement "Special Pocket" says Blay Foldex in one corner and has a yellow "Nouveau" banner on the other which is probably why it attracted my attention on my last trip. Up until then I was making due with the fold out hotel maps...went through several until they were in pieces but they had my notations, circles in different colors, etc.!

But of course all the streets are not there and when at home when my hotel or something I wanted to see was not on my trusty map I would refer to a "Street Directory of Paris' edition from 1944! A collectors' item..not exactly up to date but usually worked. It is falling apart, is about 6 by 8 inches and has those hard to get right again fold out maps! It belonged to a friend's Aunt who was a French teacher here in the states, went to Paris on vacation, met her Jacques at a sidewalk cafe...married and split their time between France and NYC for well over 50 years!

My new version has all the things Gitte mentioned in hers and is about 3.5 by 6 inches. Maps are fine, just the street name index is tiny!

[Truffaut]

Mine is the blue version, Paris only, with a plastic covering instead of paper.

[Penny]

Well, having mentioned the tiny print I went ah, ha! I have a pocket magnifier. It's just a thin strip of plastic not perfect but is easier to carry. So it's being added to my list of must takes.
but I do understand the map better now that ya'll (that's Texan for you all) have explained some of the headings and such but I do need to translate some of the first pages.