DROITE ET GAUCHE

DID YOU KNOW?

That the River Seine, flowing from east to west breaks the city of Paris in two. Paris is only 10 km by 11 km, so you can walk across the city in less than two hours!

The Left Bank (Rive Gauche), is on the left side as you face the direction the river flows. It contains some of the cities most romantic districts, including the Latin Quatier, as well as Boulevard St. Michel, and St. Germain de Pres. Throughout history the Rive Gauche has been a haven for writers, artists, and philosophers including Picasso, as well as Hemmingway, Simone de Beauvoir and F. Scott Fitzgerald who all frequented the Cafe de Flore and Les Deux Magots during their time in Paris. (Sidenote: we attended a Philosophical Cafe at Cafe de Flore and it was lovely but ridiculously expensive even for Parisian standards!). The Rive Gauche is now home to various bookstores, and clothing stores aimed at the many students attending university at the nearby Sorbonne.

The Right Bank (Rive Droite), is on the northern side of the Seine, and is more well known for it's sophistication and elegance than the more free spirited area to the south. It's most famous streets include the Champs-Elysees and Rue de Rivoli which runs past the Tuillieries and the Louvre. Top companies and banks are generally located in this part of the city but the arrondissements to the north have become much more culturally diverse and free thinking. Including the very bohemian Montmartre and our own arrondissement the 19th. Which is a cultural melting pot including a large Asian and Indian population.