VIIe arrondissement
Encyclopedia
The 7th arrondissement of Paris is one of the 20 arrondissements
(administrative districts) of the capital city
of France
. It includes some of Paris's major tourist attractions, 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
and the Musée du quai Branly
.
Situated on the Rive Gauche
— the "Left," or Southern, bank of the River Seine — this central arrrondissement, which includes the historical aristocratic neighbor 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 is home to 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. France's 2nd richest district in average income, this arrondissement is part of Paris Ouest
, alongside the 6th, 8th, 16th arrondissements and Neuilly
, and is usually considered the most aristocratic district of the area.
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 (see Hotel de Soubise
) to the clearer, less populated and less polluted Faubourg Saint-Germain
that soon became the new residence of French highest nobility.
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, or 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 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).
, Alcatel-Lucent
, and Valode & Pistre
have their head offices in this arrondissement.
and the Ministry of National Education have their head offices in the arrondissement.
events for the 1900 Summer Olympics
.
Arrondissements of Paris
The city of Paris is divided into twenty arrondissements municipaux administrative districts, more simply referred to as arrondissements . These are not to be confused with departmental arrondissements, which subdivide the 101 French départements...
(administrative districts) of the capital city
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. It includes some of Paris's major tourist attractions, such as the Eiffel Tower
Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower is a puddle iron lattice tower located on the Champ de Mars in Paris. Built in 1889, it has become both a global icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world...
and the Hôtel des Invalides (Napoléon's resting place), and a concentration of such world famous museums as the Musée d'Orsay
Musée d'Orsay
The Musée d'Orsay is a museum in Paris, France, on the left bank of the Seine. It is housed in the former Gare d'Orsay, an impressive Beaux-Arts railway station built between 1898 and 1900. The museum holds mainly French art dating from 1848 to 1915, including paintings, sculptures, furniture,...
and the Musée du quai Branly
Musée du quai Branly
thumb|225px|Musée du quai BranlyThe Musée du quai Branly , known in English as the Quai Branly Museum, nicknamed MQB, is a museum in Paris, France that features indigenous art, cultures and civilizations from Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas. The museum is located at 37, quai Branly -...
.
Situated on the Rive Gauche
Rive Gauche
La Rive Gauche is the southern bank of the river Seine in Paris. Here the river flows roughly westward, cutting the city in two: looking downstream, the southern bank is to the left, and the northern bank is to the right....
— the "Left," or Southern, bank of the River Seine — this central arrrondissement, which includes the historical aristocratic neighbor of Faubourg Saint-Germain
Faubourg Saint-Germain
The Faubourg Saint Germain is an historic district of Paris. The Faubourg has long been known as the favorite home of the French high nobility and hosts many aristocratic Hôtels particuliers...
, contains a number of French national institutions, among them the French National Assembly
French National Assembly
The French National Assembly is the lower house of the bicameral Parliament of France under the Fifth Republic. The upper house is the Senate ....
and numerous government ministries
Ministry (government department)
A ministry is a specialised organisation responsible for a sector of government public administration, sometimes led by a minister or a senior public servant, that can have responsibility for one or more departments, agencies, bureaus, commissions or other smaller executive, advisory, managerial or...
. It is also home to many foreign diplomatic embassies, some of them occupying outstanding Hôtels particuliers.
The arrondissement is home to French upper class
Upper class
In social science, the "upper class" is the group of people at the top of a social hierarchy. Members of an upper class may have great power over the allocation of resources and governmental policy in their area.- Historical meaning :...
since the 17th century, when it became the new residence of French highest nobility
Nobility
Nobility is a social class which possesses more acknowledged privileges or eminence than members of most other classes in a society, membership therein typically being hereditary. The privileges associated with nobility may constitute substantial advantages over or relative to non-nobles, or may be...
. The district has been so fashionable within the French aristocracy
Aristocracy
Aristocracy , is a form of government in which a few elite citizens rule. The term derives from the Greek aristokratia, meaning "rule of the best". In origin in Ancient Greece, it was conceived of as rule by the best qualified citizens, and contrasted with monarchy...
that the phrase le Faubourg — referring to the ancient name of the current 7th arrondissement — has been used to describe French nobility ever since. France's 2nd richest district in average income, this arrondissement is part of Paris Ouest
Paris Ouest
Paris Ouest is an expression referring to the wealthiest and most prestigious residential area of France.Located in the central and western part of Paris, it roughly follows Paris' Voie Royale or Axe historique : a line of monuments, buildings and thoroughfares that extends from the former royal...
, alongside the 6th, 8th, 16th arrondissements and Neuilly
Neuilly-sur-Seine
Neuilly-sur-Seine is a commune in the western suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris.Although Neuilly is technically a suburb of Paris, it is immediately adjacent to the city and directly extends it. The area is composed of mostly wealthy, select residential...
, and is usually considered the most aristocratic district of the area.
History
Le Marais
Le Marais is a historic district in Paris, France. Long the aristocratic district of Paris, it hosts many outstanding buildings of historic and architectural importance...
, the then-aristocratic district of Paris where nobles used to build their urban mansions (see Hotel de Soubise
Hôtel de Soubise
The Hôtel de Soubise is a city mansion entre cour et jardin , located at 60 rue des Francs-Bourgeois, in the IIIe arrondissement of Paris....
) to the clearer, less populated and less polluted Faubourg Saint-Germain
Faubourg Saint-Germain
The Faubourg Saint Germain is an historic district of Paris. The Faubourg has long been known as the favorite home of the French high nobility and hosts many aristocratic Hôtels particuliers...
that soon became the new residence of French highest nobility.
The district became so fashionable within the French aristocracy
Aristocracy
Aristocracy , is a form of government in which a few elite citizens rule. The term derives from the Greek aristokratia, meaning "rule of the best". In origin in Ancient Greece, it was conceived of as rule by the best qualified citizens, and contrasted with monarchy...
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
Hôtel Matignon
The Hôtel Matignon is the official residence of the Prime Minister of France. It is located in the VIIe arrondissement of Paris, France.The address of Hotel Matignon is 57 rue de Varenne, Paris, France.-History:...
, the Hôtel de Salm, or the Hôtel Biron
Hôtel Biron
The Hôtel Biron is an hôtel particulier in the rue de Varenne, Paris VIIème, that was built by Jacques Gabriel and his associate designer Jean Aubert, in 1728-31 Since 1919 it has housed the Musée Auguste Rodin....
.
After the Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
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
Restauration
Restauration is French for restoration.Restauration can refer to:*European Restoration, the return of many monarchies after Napoleon's French were defeated.** Bourbon Restoration, the restoration of the French monarchy under Louis XVIII....
, 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
Ultra-royalist
Ultra-Royalists or simply Ultras were a reactionary faction which sat in the French parliament from 1815 to 1830 under the Bourbon Restoration...
Party. After the Fall of Charles X, the district lost most of its political influence but remained the center of French upper class
Upper class
In social science, the "upper class" is the group of people at the top of a social hierarchy. Members of an upper class may have great power over the allocation of resources and governmental policy in their area.- Historical meaning :...
' social life
Social life
Social life may refer to:* an individual's Interpersonal relationships* Social relation * Social Life, an album by Koufax* Social Life, the indie/punk band from Greensboro, North Carolina....
.
During the 19th century, the arrondissement hosted no less than five Universal Exhibitions (1855
Exposition Universelle (1855)
The Exposition Universelle of 1855 was an International Exhibition held on the Champs-Elysées in Paris from May 15 to November 15, 1855. Its full official title was the Exposition Universelle des produits de l'Agriculture, de l'Industrie et des Beaux-Arts de Paris 1855.The exposition was a major...
, 1867
Exposition Universelle (1867)
The Exposition Universelle of 1867 was a World Exposition held in Paris, France, in 1867.-Conception:In 1864, Emperor Napoleon III decreed that an international exposition should be held in Paris in 1867. A commission was appointed with Prince Jerome Napoleon as president, under whose direction...
, 1878
Exposition Universelle (1878)
The third Paris World's Fair, called an Exposition Universelle in French, was held from 1 May through to 10 November 1878. It celebrated the recovery of France after the 1870 Franco-Prussian War.-Construction:...
, 1889
Exposition Universelle (1889)
The Exposition Universelle of 1889 was a World's Fair held in Paris, France from 6 May to 31 October 1889.It was held during the year of the 100th anniversary of the storming of the Bastille, an event traditionally considered as the symbol for the beginning of the French Revolution...
, 1900
Exposition Universelle (1900)
The Exposition Universelle of 1900 was a world's fair held in Paris, France, from April 15 to November 12, 1900, to celebrate the achievements of the past century and to accelerate development into the next...
) that have immensely impacted its cityscape, the Eiffel Tower
Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower is a puddle iron lattice tower located on the Champ de Mars in Paris. Built in 1889, it has become both a global icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world...
and the Orsay building
Gare d'Orsay
Gare d'Orsay is a former Paris railway station and hotel, built in 1900 to designs by Victor Laloux, Lucien Magne and Émile Bénard; it served as a terminus for the Chemin de Fer de Paris à Orléans . It was the first electrified urban rail terminal in the world, opened 28 May 1900, in time for the...
have been built for these Exhibitions (respectively in 1889 and 1900).
Geography
The land area of the arrondissement is 4.088 km² (1.578 sq. miles, or 1,010 acres).Demography
The 7th arrondissement attained its peak population in 1926 when it had 110,684 inhabitants. Because it is the location of so many French government bodies, this arrondissement has never been as densely populated as some of the others. In 1999, the population was 56,985, while the arrondissement provided 76,212 jobs.Historical population
| Year (of French censuses) | Population | Density (inh. per km²) |
|---|---|---|
| 1872 | 78,553 | 19,206 |
| 1926 (peak year) | 110,684 | 27,075 |
| 1954 | 104,412 | 25,529 |
| 1962 | 99,584 | 24,360 |
| 1968 | 87,811 | 21,480 |
| 1975 | 74,250 | 18,163 |
| 1982 | 67,461 | 16,502 |
| 1990 | 62,939 | 15,396 |
| 1999 | 56,985 | 13,940 |
| 2005 estimate | 55,400 | 13,552 |
Immigration
Places of interest
Important places include:- French National AssemblyFrench National AssemblyThe French National Assembly is the lower house of the bicameral Parliament of France under the Fifth Republic. The upper house is the Senate ....
- Eiffel TowerEiffel TowerThe Eiffel Tower is a puddle iron lattice tower located on the Champ de Mars in Paris. Built in 1889, it has become both a global icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world...
- Hôtel MatignonHôtel MatignonThe Hôtel Matignon is the official residence of the Prime Minister of France. It is located in the VIIe arrondissement of Paris, France.The address of Hotel Matignon is 57 rue de Varenne, Paris, France.-History:...
- Champ de MarsChamp de MarsThe Champ de Mars is a large public greenspace in Paris, France, located in the seventh arrondissement, between the Eiffel Tower to the northwest and the École Militaire to the southeast. The park is named after the Campus Martius in Rome, a tribute to the Roman god of war...
- Musée d'OrsayMusée d'OrsayThe Musée d'Orsay is a museum in Paris, France, on the left bank of the Seine. It is housed in the former Gare d'Orsay, an impressive Beaux-Arts railway station built between 1898 and 1900. The museum holds mainly French art dating from 1848 to 1915, including paintings, sculptures, furniture,...
- École MilitaireÉcole MilitaireThe École Militaire is a vast complex of buildings housing various military training facilities located in the 7th arrondissement of Paris, France, southeast of the Champ de Mars....
- Hôtel des InvalidesLes InvalidesLes Invalides , officially known as L'Hôtel national des Invalides , is a complex of buildings in the 7th arrondissement of Paris, France, containing museums and monuments, all relating to the military history of France, as well as a hospital and a retirement home for war veterans, the building's...
- Musée du quai BranlyMusée du quai Branlythumb|225px|Musée du quai BranlyThe Musée du quai Branly , known in English as the Quai Branly Museum, nicknamed MQB, is a museum in Paris, France that features indigenous art, cultures and civilizations from Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas. The museum is located at 37, quai Branly -...
- Musée national de la Légion d'Honneur et des Ordres de ChevalerieMusée national de la Légion d'Honneur et des Ordres de ChevalerieThe Musée national de la Légion d'Honneur et des Ordres de Chevalerie is a museum of national orders of merit located in the 7th arrondissement in the Palais de la Légion d'Honneur beside the Musée d'Orsay at 2, rue de la Légion-d'Honneur , Paris, France. It is open daily except Monday; admission...
- Musée MaillolMusée MaillolThe Musée Maillol is an art museum located in the 7th arrondissement at 59-61, rue de Grenelle, Paris, France. It is open daily except Tuesday; an admission fee is charged....
- Musée de l'Ordre de la LibérationMusée de l'Ordre de la LibérationThe Musée de l'Ordre de la Libération is a military museum located in the 7th arrondissement at 51 bis boulevard de La Tour-Maubourg, Paris, France. It is open daily except Sunday; admission is free...
- Musée RodinMusée RodinThe Musée Rodin in Paris, France, is a museum that was opened in 1919 in the Hôtel Biron and surrounding grounds. It displays works by the French sculptor Auguste Rodin....
- Musée Valentin HaüyMusée Valentin HaüyThe Musée Valentin Haüy is a private museum dedicated to tools and education of the blind, and located in the building of the Valentin Haüy Association, in the VIIe arrondissement at 5, rue Duroc, Paris, France. It is open Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons without charge.The museum was established...
- Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris (Sciences Po)
Economy
Air LiquideAir Liquide
L'Air Liquide S.A., or Air Liquide , is a major French company supplying industrial gases and services to various industries including medical, chemical and electronic manufacturers. Founded in 1902, it is first in the world market in its field, now operating in over 80 countries. It is...
, Alcatel-Lucent
Alcatel-Lucent
Alcatel-Lucent is a global telecommunications corporation, headquartered in the 7th arrondissement of Paris, France. It provides telecommunications solutions to service providers, enterprises, and governments around the world, enabling these customers to deliver voice, data, and video services...
, and Valode & Pistre
Valode & Pistre
Valode & Pistre is a French architecture firm operated by Denis Valode and Jean Pistre. It has its head office in the 7th arrondissement of Paris.-Projects:* T1 Tower* Tour Generali* Air France head office* Air France Cité PN...
have their head offices in this arrondissement.
Government
The Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Foreign AffairsMinister of Foreign Affairs (France)
Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs ), is France's foreign affairs ministry, with the headquarters located on the Quai d'Orsay in Paris close to the National Assembly of France. The Minister of Foreign and European Affairs in the government of France is the cabinet minister responsible for...
and the Ministry of National Education have their head offices in the arrondissement.
Sport
The arrondissement hosted the equestrianEquestrian at the 1900 Summer Olympics
At the 1900 Summer Olympics, five equestrian events were contested. Only three are currently considered Olympic by the International Olympic Committee. It is not certain how many competitors there were, but it is likely that there were between 37 and 64. Calculation of number of competitors is...
events for the 1900 Summer Olympics
1900 Summer Olympics
The 1900 Summer Olympics, today officially known as the Games of the II Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1900 in Paris, France. No opening or closing ceremonies were held; competitions began on May 14 and ended on October 28. The Games were held as part of...
.