The Often-Overlooked 17th Arrondissement of Paris, France
copyright 2011 Lisa B. Falour, B.S., M.B.A. all rights reserved LISA, INC. (EURL) cutecatfaith.com
Paris has 20 arrondissements, each with its own city hall (Mairie), mayor and four quarters (probably based on the old parish system). Lacking major tourist attractions but full of authentic charm and history, the 17th is quite something. Haussmann's replanning of the city on a major scale in the 19th century can clearly be seen here, and there are beautiful buildings, large and small, from that period. A villa is an impasse or a group of buildings (usually), and at least one can be seen on this clip. These tend to be highly desirable places to live.
Le Petit Ceinture was an outer/innerbelt rainway system encircling Paris. It fell into disuse long ago. Up until a few years ago, once per year or so, people could ride parts of it for fun, but I think that has stopped. Some of this sadly abandoned but useful rail line (corruption and bad planning the culprits) can be seen in this clip, though it just appears as an oasis of green trees to your left. Parts of it have been covered with tennis courts and such. Now, Paris is having to reinstall tramway systems at great cost and inconvenience. It's a darn shame and something most cities let happen -- buses were promoted.
Sundays are very quiet in France, and most of Paris is closed on Sundays, but we visited the Square de Batignolles, a beautiful park designed by Haussmann, an oasis of green with a duck pond, water features, an orangerie, a tiny grotto, and places to chill out. A walk in the Batignolles quarter of the 17th revealed beautiful buildings, mews-like streets and plazas, quite a few restaurants, florists and cafés open and busy, and NO TOURISTS ANYWHERE. It has a village-like feeling, yet is elegant as can be, despite train tracks to Gare Saint Lazare and a huge construction project for an Olympic Village which never happened. A great many big hotels have gone up here and are still going up, and if you like the Ibis chain, you might consider their huge tower here. Your stay in Paris will show you some of the real character of the city if you stay around here, and remember, the métro system is pretty darn user-friendly. Yes, it closes overnight, but neither Paris nor France in general are night places. The smartest visitors get up early and do their sightseeing in the morning, first thing, stopping at noon for lunch and a siesta, going back out in the afternoon to stroll, shop and hang out.