ILE-DE-FRANCE

The Ile de France includes star-studded Paris - the Seine, Eiffel Tower, Nôtre Dame, the Louvre, the rue Fauberg-Saint-Honoré etc., need no introduction.

The Boulevard Haussmann commemorates George Haussmann to whom, following the industrial revolution, Napoleon III gave the task of transforming medieval walled Paris into a modern city. The result can be seen today - wide boulevards, lovely parks, and railway stations such as the Gard du Nord. Haussmann and his team of architects having created a uniform architectural style that altered the shape of Paris. This style manifests itself in the hôtel particulier, not actually a hotel, but a distinctive and slightly austere style of mansion building. There are many such buildings around Paris, and indeed in many other towns and cities in France. They have apartments on several floors with attic apartments at the very top. Apartments on the lower floors are likely to have good sized rooms with high ceilings, large windows, marble fireplaces, parquet flooring etc.

The districts of Paris are known as arrondissements - the lowest numbers being closest to the centre. Properties in the arrondissements near to the Seine and the centre command high prices, but lower priced properties can be found in, say, the 20th.

To the west, in the Ile de France is the magnificent Château de Versailles and to the south east is Fontainebleau. For those of a younger disposition, there is Disneyland to the east of the city. To the north, just outside the Ile de France, is Chantilly - famous for cream, lace and its racecourse. Prices in these areas reflect the relatively easy access to the capital.

As well as providing some very general information, these notes reflect my own impressions following many visits to France. They are, however, no substitute for the very good and interesting books which are available. William Pearson©