Quartiers vs. Arrondisements?

[ouiparis]

Please correct me if I'm wrong. Arrondisements are comprised of quartiers, correct? How many quartiers are there in Paris?

[GitteK]

Arrondissements are the 20 major administrative units.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arrondissements_of_Paris

There are 80 quartiers in Paris:
fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quartier_de_Paris#Quartiers_administratifs_aujourd.27hui
fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quartier_de_Paris

And as you can see, before the urban works of Philippe Auguste Paris was originally divided into 4 quarters (hence the name "quartier"): Île de la Cité and on the right bank: Saint Jacques de la Boucherie, La Verrerie and La Grève. The left bank was in possesion of the abbeys. After Philippe Auguste had built his city wall, the number of quartier grew to 8 - and so forth......

The function of the "quartier" was to circumscribe the public affairs of a certain area, as opposed to the "parish" which was the centre of the social life.
(sloppy translation by yours truly)

[luckyluc]

For example our arrondissement (the 11th) have 4 quartiers (Roquette, Folie-Méricourt, Saint-Ambroise and Sainte-Marguerite) Our apartement is in Roquette, if one pays attention there are differences in each quartiers. It is also the most populate arrondissement of Paris and have the highest density of any urban district in Europe.

So there are lot of commerces and it is also the best served arrondissement in regard of public transit with 25 subway stations on it territory.

[ouiparis]

Thanks, GitteK and luckyluc! I do recognize some of the quartier names from Paris Je'taime.

[MaisonMetz]

Ouiparis,

My favorite Paris map, Le petit parisien - 3 plans par arrondissement, has, as the name indicates, three maps for each arrondissement. The first map overlays the Métro system and provides a lot of info in the margins about the arrondissement, including the names of its four quartiers (also monuments found, the address and phone number of the mairie - i.e., the town hall, post office addresses, police stations, taxi stands, etc.) The second map is the overall street map of the arrondissement, and it indicates the boundaries of the four official quartiers with dotted blue lines. The third map overlays the bus routes. It's a super resource for Parisophiles, and if you need a map of Paris arrondissements, it's the one I'd recommend.

Back on point, you'll also find that when people use the term quartier, they may have in mind a more loosely defined Paris neighborhood, rather than an official quartier, e.g., the Latin Quarter, the Marais, Saint Blaise, etc. The source Gitte linked addresses this in French.

Jo

[phread]

The official gov't use of the term quartier is not in line with the local use. For example, I live in the 7th, but my apartment is considered in St Germain des Pres (the 6th) and the Marais is in the 4th, but runs into the 3rd.

[Laidback]

Maison Metz,
I have been coming to Paris every year for 14 years and never leave without one of my copies of Your recommended Le petit parisien 3 PLANS PAR ARRONDISSEMENT, but until I read your post today, I never realized it had the official boundary borders marked. Thanks for the info., there they are clear as day!

As phread points out, customary usage is sometimes different. I certainly agree that her area is confusing...borderline 6th/7th arrondissement, commonly referred to as St. Germain, officially though it appears to be Saint-Thomas d'Aquin.

[Jody]

Did you have to buy the map in Paris? I googled it and couldn't find anyplace to buy it. However the second item that came up in the Google search was a link to this thread!!

[Becky (Berkeleytravelers)]

Wow, hitting the Google radar is a step forward! And, I would be interested also in where the map can be purchased (in Paris, or elsewhere). I assume bookstores in Paris would carry it, but any other suggestions?

Further: I tried Amazon.fr, thinking it might carry this, but non!

[Truffaut]

The boundaries of the chic quartiers tend to grow larger and larger over time. Just a few years ago, nobody would have considered the 3rd to be part of the Marais, but since that designation helps property prices, everybody lives in the Marais. In my part of the city, noboby lives in Epinettes, but everybody lives in Les Batginolles. And it's amazing how many residents of the 9th arr. live in the quartier St-Georges!

[Becky (Berkeleytravelers)]

Too funny, Truffaut - sounds like San Francisco, where everything within about a half mile is optimistically designated as "Nob Hill" or "Pacific Heights" (or, with a small nod to reality - vs. realty - "Lower Nob Hill" or "Lower Pacific Heights").

[Laidback]

I have always picked up my copies of Le petit parisien 3 PLANS PAR ARRONDISSEMENT at one of the many kiosks usually found near a large metro stop, but I am sure many Parisian bookstores carry them.

[MaisonMetz]

Demarais and Becky -

While the shipping fees might be heavy for an otherwise inexpensive item, Amazon.fr does carry Le petit parisien: www.amazon.fr/Atlas-routiers-petit-parisien-Indispensable/dp/2707204072/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1210106434&sr=8-1

Copies are relatively easy to find in Paris in bookstores, as well as in kiosks by major Métro station entrances. I've seen them in W. H. Smith on the rue de Rivoli and in various fnacs, which is where I usually check for updates.

Jo

[MaisonMetz]

Laidback -

I know what you mean about discovering things for the first time in resources you've used extensively. About two years ago a new version of Le petit parisien - 3 plans par arrondissement was published that has small oval maps instead of rectangular ones on the cover. I used the updated version for several months before I realized that the street index had been updated to include bus lines and Métro stations for each street listed. It really is a great little book.

Jo

[gracejoan]

I have ordered them from Amazon. Arrive very fast....

[Jody]

Jo, thanks for the link. I looked for it this morning but couldn't quite identify the book. I wanted to have it in hand before we leave so I can plan out my routes. The feet are giving out and I need to plan ahead! The total was 16 Euro, 6 for the map and 10 for the postage! There are 2 big kiosks near where we get the metro but with my lick they wouldn't have it!!

[Becky (Berkeleytravelers)]

Jo, thanks from me also - I plugged in the name for a search and it came up with nothing. Don't know what I was doing wrong, but this is great.

[grant]

Just noticed this thread. You learn something new everyday! I had no idea about the quartiers within arrondissements. That can be my reading for the evening then.