Paris’ Right Bank, Left Bank, and Arrondissements Explained

When you head to Paris, hearing “I’ll meet you in the 4th” or “I’m staying on the left bank, the right is too boogie for me” can be a bit confusing. In this article, we’ll explain what you need to know about the difference between Paris’ left bank and right bank, plus we’ll give you some background on the arrondissements. You’ll be a pro in no time!

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Paris’ Right and Left Banks: The Quick Explanation

If you just want to know which side is which and what an arrondissement is, here’s the quick answer:

The right bank, or Rive Droite in French, refers to the north side of the Seine river. It’s called the “right bank” because when you stand facing West (towards the ocean), it’s on the right side of the Seine river.

The left bank, or Rive Gauche in French, refers to the south side of the Seine river or the left side when you face West.

There are 20 arrondissements or districts in Paris. They spiral out from the center in a clockwise direction, starting with the area where you’ll find the Louvre and Tuileries Gardens. The central arrondissements are small and they get larger as you spiral out.

That’s the quick answer. Paris is a sprawling metropolis that has been built and added to for over 2,000 years.

Modern Parisians have created many local terms to simplify talking about the city—simple for them anyway. Read on if you want to understand the local nuances of these terms, learn the history, and know how to pronounce them properly.

What Is an Arrondissement?

Before diving into the history of the right bank and left bank, you need to understand the significance of the arrondissement of Paris. Here’s a brief historical timeline:

In 1795, Paris was divided into 12 arrondissements. The first nine were on the right bank and the remaining three were on the left bank.

In 1850-60, Napoleon III began planning the expansion of Paris. This was passed into law and took effect in 1860. The 12 arrondissement became 20. Not much has changed since then.

Here’s a funny historical detail about the residents of an area named Passy. This particular area fell within the first arrondissement in the original 12-arr. layout. When they released the plan for the new city layout, Passy ended up in the 13th arrondissement. This infuriated the residents.

Apparently, there was a saying, “they were married in the 13th,” which was a sort of snide way of referring to unmarried couples cohabitating together. Passy was a particularly wealthy neighborhood and they didn’t want to be in the new 13th. They had the layout changed and now they’re in the 16th.

Getting tired of saying “arrondissement”? It’s a long word and, in fact, you don’t have to say it all. Locals simply say, “the 5th” instead of the 5th arrondissement.

Also, in literature, you’ll see it written as the shortened “arr.”. If you want to be cool, book a room in the Latin Quarter, and when someone asks you where you’re staying, just reply, “the 5th.”

Paris’ Right Bank (Rive Droite)

Pronunciation: Reev Daw-wa-tt

Historically, the right bank has been home to the commercial centers of Paris. It was originally a place of industry inhabited by the “industrious” or Paris’ wealthy upper class. The right bank is also home to some of Paris’ greatest museums: the Louvre, Musée de Art Moderne, and Musée de l’Orangerie. Pretty impressive!

Basically, Paris’ elite lives on the right bank. Most of the bars, restaurants, and establishments there would have been run by people from the left bank who, historically, were less wealthy.

Later, people from the right bank started to venture to the left bank to visit the Saint Germain des Prés neighborhood and sit at Café des Deux Magots. This was frequented by the left-bank literary crowd including the likes of Picasso, James Joyce, and Hemingway. At this point, all of Paris rose in stature and now both sides of the Seine are known for being expensive!

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Paris’ Left Bank (Rive Gauche)

Pronunciation: Reev Gaush

The left bank has historically been considered Paris’ bohemian district. This was due to la Sorbonne and other universities popping up in the Latin Quarter (the 5th and 6th arr.).

Most students didn’t have any money, so housing in this area was cheap. Artists also flocked to the cheaper housing. The traditional wealthy from the right bank, on the other hand, avoided the area like the plague—which it actually had, at times.

While la Sorbonne and the university district had a lot to do with the bohemian feel, the left bank wouldn’t be what it was in the early 20th century without the help of an American named Sylvia Beach.

In 1919, she founded the famous bookstore Shakespeare and Company. Many foreign English-language writers and poets probably enjoyed the mother-tongue feel of the shop. It attracted the likes of Hemmingway, Fitzgerald, and many others.

James Joyce even published Ulysses through Sylvia Beach, but she wasn’t his first choice. I could imagine Joyce venting and Slyvia replying, “You know what? Screw them, I’ll publish your book!”

Interestingly, Merriam-Webster Dictionary states the first use of “left-bank” in literature was in 1915. It could have been in use much earlier than that though.

Modern-Day Paris Left Bank vs Right Bank

Today, there’s very little difference between Paris’ left bank and right bank. The bohemian vs capitalists stereotype is a thing of the past. Today, all real estate in the City of Lights is expensive and both sides are pretty bougie.

You’ll still find an artistic student scene in the 5th and 6th on the left bank. However, le Marais on the right bank is considered the most artistic and trendy neighborhood in Paris today.

So, where do I stay when I’m in Paris? The closer I am to Notre Dame the better for me. It’s within easy walking distance of lots of bars and restaurants and it has great metro connections to the rest of the city. Want an easy way to explore the best of Paris? Check out our awesome Paris tours. We have experiences for every type of traveler.

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