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In-Depth Information
and the charming modern Marché de Saint-Honoré has
enlivened the place Saint-Honoré. Although little of this area
is truly residential, it might be fun for a short stay.
Second Arrondissement (2
e
)
Extending the commercial centre of Paris, the tiny 2nd
arrondissement
contains La Bourse (Stock Exchange), financial
offices of every type and nationality, airline offices, travel
agencies and insurance companies. Cafés, cinemas and
theatres keep the western edge alive well into the night. This is
an area that is becoming more residential, as formerly rundown
areas are being revitalised by a younger set of Parisians, and
the area is becoming increasingly fashionable.
Toward the east are hundreds of factories and warehouses
at the heart of Paris' clothing industry, culminating at cart- and
traffic-jammed Sentier and Place du Caire. Except for streets
near the fashion designer enclave of rue Etienne-Marcel and
Place des Victoires and a few streets toward the east, there
are only a few areas one would consider for a residence.
Away from Place de l'Opéra, much of the area is deserted at
night and on weekends, except for the broad avenues and the
eastern boundary of boulevard Sébastopol. There is little open
space and this is the least green area of the city.
The 2
e
, however, is the site of some
passages
—covered
shopping arcades dating from the end of the 19th century.
Several have been beautifully restored for upmarket shopping
and dining, while others remain full of jumbled stores. Here
too is one of Paris' important market streets, the pedestrian-
only rue Montorgueil, an attractive combination of food
emporiums,
traiteurs
(take-out delicatessens) and terraced
cafés. People used to come here only to do their shopping,
but since refurbishment has spruced up the area and prices
are still fairly reasonable, people are increasingly calling this
area home.
The Marais (3
e
and 4
e
)
The 3rd and 4th
arrondissements
are collectively known as
the Marais, that ancient swampland that was once part of
the river basin of the Seine. As noted, it is the one of the
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