Paris neighbourhoods: Discovering the sophisticated 7th arrondissement
13:15
Issued on:
13:15 min
In this edition of French Connections Plus, Genie Godula and Florence Villeminot continue their tour of Paris with a stop in one the capital's most sophisticated arrondissements: the 7th. The area is rich with political and military history and filled with monuments like the Eiffel Tower and the gold-domed Invalides, where Napoleon is buried. It's also rich, full stop! The 7th has been home to the French upper classes since the 17th century and that opulence is reflected in its many mansions that now house embassies and museums. Join us on a tour of the sophisticated 7th arrondissement!
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
France 24
14 hours ago
- France 24
Parisians take their first plunge into the Seine in more than a century
It is a historic moment for Paris residents but perhaps a dubious one as well, after several swimmers got sick after competing in the open-water races at the 2024 Paris Olympics – although it is not clear if this was due to the water itself, and the World Aquatics governing body said the Seine met necessary thresholds. A century ago it became illegal to bathe in the waters of the French capital due to severe pollution. In the late 18th and throughout the 19th century, human waste was used for fertiliser. But as alternative fertilisers became more common, sewage was increasingly fed directly into the Seine, making it unfit for bathing. For many Parisians, their ideas of the Seine are less than romantic: with its fast-paced murky water, floating trash and the occasional 2-metre-long catfish, it's a river full of surprises. But their presence might actually be a sign that the Seine is getting cleaner, according to Paris town hall. Due to purification efforts over the past 40 years, 34 species of fish now swim in Parisian waters – as opposed to just two when these efforts began. As of today, one more species joins them: humans. Three official bathing spots are now open, one at Bras Marie near Île Saint-Louis in the 4th arrondissement (district), another at quai de Bercy in the 12th and one at Grenelle in the 15th. Swimming within sight of the Eiffel Tower At the Grenelle pool, which lies in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, a long line of curious – and some might say, courageous – swimmers queued up, ready to test the waters. Aglaé Janel, 33, a mother of two, said she felt confident letting her children swim in the Seine. 'We're not going to let the children drink the water, we'll keep an eye on them, but we trust it,' she said. This site has a safety pool for families with children that is only 40 to 60 cm deep and has a lounging area for sunbathing. The venue can hold up to 200 people at once, including some 150 in the 60x20-metre bathing area, and is accessible to those with limited mobility. Some, however, remain skeptical. Retired physical education teacher Isabelle Langlois, 67, came for opening day, but she expressed mixed feelings about the Seine's cleanliness. 'I trust the city of Paris for the tests and everything,' she said. 'And I tell myself that even if there's a little bit of pollution, we can still try to swim.' But she also pointed out what she regularly sees from her bike rides along the river. 'There are a lot of water bottles, a lot of things still floating in the Seine. Much less than before the Olympic Games, but still a lot of waste – maybe blown in or thrown by people.' But some of the skepticism seemed to cool off as swimmers got in the water. 'We were super nervous about it at first. I said I wasn't going to get in the water, but it's actually really nice, and it feels clean. There's some little bits of debris, but ... it's been really cool, actually,' said Kathryn Boccuzzi, an American expat who has lived in the Paris area for many years. "We'll probably come back and do it again." People were jumping off the main platform, kids splashed excitedly in the shallow pool, but it seemed to be the adults – long-time Parisians dreaming of this moment – who were most moved by the experience. The swimming pool is integrated with the river's natural environment, fed by water directly from the Seine. It is separated from the river itself by buoys marking swimming areas and accessed via floating pontoon decks. An Industrial dip At the Bercy site, many were surprised by the cleanliness of the water – especially given the surrounding high-rises and industrial setting. 'When I saw all the industry and thought about the pollution, I was sceptical,' said Morad Aref, a Canadian student. 'But when I got in the water, it was great. The temperature is perfect. I live in Ireland, and the beaches there are freezing, but here it's so nice.' Students lounging in one of Bercy's two swimming zones were also impressed. American student Jacob Nelson said he felt safe thanks to the constant monitoring and water conditions posted at the entrance. 'It felt just like a lake,' he said. 'I mean, there's bits and bobs floating around, but it's just plant matter – you're not freaking out. And every now and then, you'll see a fish swim by. I mean, if there are fish in the water, it can't be that bad.' Massive retention basins capture and store rainwater and sewage overflow during storms to prevent spills into the Seine. Swimming sites and weather conditions are monitored daily. People from all over the world will be able to have a dip in the iconic Seine until August 31. Paris's town hall has determined that winter swimming will not be possible due to higher precipitation and stronger river currents. Some bathers are hoping that the start of swimming in the Seine will be a game changer, given that European summers are expected to become even hotter and dryer in the future. 'It feels like we're living through a historic moment, one that will change Paris in the summers to come, given climate change,' said student Mathis Beautrais, 21.
Local France
18 hours ago
- Local France
French Word of the Day: Un transat
Why do I need to know transat? Because whether you're soaking up the sun on a Mediterranean beach or just enjoying a lazy afternoon in a Parisian park, you might find yourself sitting in one. What does it mean? Transat – roughly pronounced trahn-zat – is the French word for a deckchair or sun lounger. It's typically the folding canvas chair you'll find lined up at poolsides, beaches, and summer festivals across France. The word is a shortened version of chaise transatlantique – literally 'transatlantic chair' – referring to the reclining chairs used on early 20th-century ocean liners crossing the Atlantic. Advertisement The name stuck even after the chairs made their way to land, with the English version having the same origin as chairs that were on the deck of a ship. What hasn't changed is that transats are all about relaxation. You might rent one ( louer un transat ) for a few euros at a public beach, or drag one into your garden for a dose of vitamin D. During the summer months, French cities even set up free transats in public areas. Events like Paris Plages or riverside guinguettes often feature rows of these chairs inviting you to chill with a book or an apéro. Use it like this On va à la plage tôt pour réserver un transat – We're going to the beach early to grab a deckchair. J'ai passé toute la journée dans un transat avec un rosé bien frais – I spent the whole day in a deckchair with a nice chilled rosé.
Local France
18 hours ago
- Local France
Where can I find France's €1 homes?
There's been widespread reporting on the '€1 homes' on sale in Italy, while Spain has also offered some similar schemes - both have the same aim; to encourage people to move to remote and under-populated regions and renovate old, derelict houses. While France doesn't have quite the same problems as its neighbours, there are areas that suffer from population drain, and some have begun offering €1 homes or other inducements to people to move there. Where are these schemes? In short - remote areas, you won't be finding a €1 home in Paris, the Alps or the Riviera. Advertisement As with Spain and Italy, the types of towns or villages that offer these are in under-populated areas. These tend to be in central France, the so-called 'empty middle' in sparsely populated départements such as Cantal, Creuse, Corrèze and Lozère. It's not only central France, however, the most recently announced scheme is in the town of Ambert in the mountainous département of Puy-de-Dôme in eastern France. Meanwhile several communes in the northern region of Hauts-de-France have offered a scheme where they give €5,000 to anyone who buys a home there. They tend to be in either villages or small towns that are a long way from the nearest major urban centre - so you will almost certainly need a car and you need to be unfazed by isolation, especially in the winter. Who are they for? In most cases the vendors of the €1 homes are the local authorities - although in some cases local authorities offer cash grants to people buying from private sellers. As you would expect from something paid for with public money, they come with strings attached. The exact conditions vary but the schemes are often restricted to first-time buyers and you will generally need to sign an agreement to stay there for a certain period of time, and sometimes also commit to making necessary repairs. You must also commit to living there full time - these offers are not open to second-home owners, or people who want to rent out the property to tourists. There is no stipulation that you must be French, although these types of arrangements tend to involve complicated legal agreements, so this probably isn't suitable for people who don't speak good French. Advertisement Even if you don't qualify for the €1 homes, they are a good indicator of areas where property is likely to be cheap. Are they really just €1? The purchase price is indeed €1, and that's also good news for the notaire fee (property buyer's tax), which is calculated as a percentage of the purchase price. But it's understood that these homes are generally not in good repair, and will need a significant budget for renovation. That's the case with most of the €1 home schemes around Europe, the properties on offer are usually old and either dilapidated or downright derelict. Advertisement But the French schemes tend to be a bit more formal and often in exchange for either a €1 home or grants and funding from local authorities you will have to sign an agreement to undertake certain works within a set time period. This can actually be helpful, as at least it gives you an idea upfront of what renovation budget you need, but this cannot be attempted by anyone who genuinely only has €1 to spend. Things to watch out for Properties of this type tend to be sold 'as seen', which makes it harder to back out if you later discover a major flaw. While property surveys are not common in France they're definitely recommended for this type of property in case there are major structural issues such as subsidence. If the property is very old and hasn't been renovated for some time it's likely that things such as electricity will no longer be up to the required code standard. Check whether the property has a septic tank - a lot of rural French properties do - if the tank is old it's likely that it won't conform to new standards introduced in 2012 , which means you will need to get a new one, at a cost of roughly €10,000. Also check whether you are in a conservation area or are covered by specific building codes such as the Loi Montagne - these can restrict the type of works you can do, and make things more expensive. The mairie should be able to tell you about local rules and standards. READ ALSO : Tips for renovating French property: 'Double your budget and make friends with the mayor'✎ OK, so where can I find the €1 properties? Unfortunately, there isn't a national database of €1 homes. They don't tend to make a splash in national media either, although local press will often report on them. The best place to look is local authority websites or Facebook pages - this will, however, be a long and tedious job of sifting through a lot of irrelevant village news before you find anything. But nothing worth having ever came easy!
