7th Arrondissment
The 7th arrondissement of Paris includes some of the major tourist attractions of Paris, such as the Eiffel Tower and the Hôtel des Invalides (Napoléon's resting place), and a concentration of such world-famous museums as the Musée d'Orsay, Musée Rodin, and the Musée du quai Branly.
Situated on the Rive Gauche—the "Left", or Southern, bank of the River Seine—this central arrondissement, which includes the historical aristocratic neighbourhood of Faubourg Saint-Germain, contains a number of French national institutions, among them the French National Assembly and numerous government ministries. It is also home to many foreign diplomatic embassies, some of them occupying outstanding Hôtels particuliers.
The arrondissement has been home to the French upper class since the 17th century, when it became the new residence of French highest nobility. The district has been so fashionable within the French aristocracy that the phrase le Faubourg—referring to the ancient name of the current 7th arrondissement—has been used to describe French nobility ever since. The 7th arrondissement of Paris and Neuilly-sur-Seine form the most affluent and prestigious residential area in France
History
During the 17th century, French high nobility started to move from the central Marais, the then-aristocratic district of Paris where nobles used to build their urban mansions[3] (see Hotel de Soubise), to the clearer, less populated and less polluted Faubourg Saint-Germain.
The district became so fashionable within the French aristocracy that the phrase le Faubourg has been used to describe French nobility ever since. The oldest and most prestigious families of the French nobility built outstanding residences in the area, such as the Hôtel Matignon, the Hôtel de Salm, and the Hôtel Biron.
After the Revolution many of these mansions, offering magnificent inner spaces, many receptions rooms and exquisite decoration, were confiscated and turned into national institutions. The French expression "les ors de la Republique" (literally "the golds of the Republic"), referring to the luxurious environment of the national palaces (outstanding official residences and priceless works of art), comes from that time.
During the Restauration, the Faubourg recovered its past glory as the most exclusive high nobility district of Paris and was the political heart of the country, home to the Ultra Party. After the Fall of Charles X, the district lost most of its political influence but remained the center of the French upper class' social life.
During the 19th century, the arrondissement hosted no less than five Universal Exhibitions (1855, 1867, 1878, 1889, 1900) that have immensely impacted its cityscape. The Eiffel Tower and the Orsay building have been built for these Exhibitions (respectively in 1889 and 1900).
CityScape
Places of Interest
- Palais Bourbon, meeting place of the National Assembly
- Eiffel Tower
- Cathedral of Saint-Louis-des-Invalides, Paris
- Hôtel Matignon
- Hôtel de Boisgelin (Rue de Varenne, Paris), historic building, home to the Italian embassy in Paris.
- Hôtel de Besenval
- Champ de Mars
- Musée d'Orsay
- École Militaire
- Hôtel des Invalides
- Maison Gainsbourg
- Maison de Verre
- Musée du quai Branly
- Musée national de la Légion d'Honneur et des Ordres de Chevalerie
- Musée Maillol
- Musée de l'Ordre de la Libération
- Musée Rodin
- Musée Valentin Haüy
- Institut d'Études Politiques de Paris (Sciences Po)
Cathedral of Saint-Louis-des-Invalides, Paris Saint-Pierre-du-Gros-Caillou Art and industry Musée du quai Branly Musée national de la Légion d'Honneur et des Ordres de Chevalerie Musée Maillol Musée de l'Ordre de la Libération Musée Rodin Musée Valentin Haüy National Horticultural Society of France
Police
- -- Hamilton Lamonnd -- Inspector
- -- Edme Dufort -- Police Assistant
- -- Anaclet Bonhomme -- Police Assistant
