Along with the 4th arrondissement, this neighbourhood makes up the Marais, the oldest neighbourhood in Paris. Many 18th century mansions that once housed the noblest families of Paris remain, such as the Hotel de Rohan.
This is a multi-ethnic, local and working class environment with many fashion wholesalers, a cluster of art galleries, brasseries, some pleasant regular markets such as the ‘Marché des enfants rouges’ and an interesting mixture of generations.
The maze of narrower southern streets lead to the area known as the Marais, which is more pedestrian, with lovely little parks, boutiques, restaurants, cafes and bars. Important landmarks are the Picasso museum, the National Archives and the Carnavalet museum. This area is relatively trendy due to the popularity with the local artist and gay communities.
Buildings are lower and are an architectural mixture of ancient, traditional and modern. The area offers a strong community feel, has great local commerce and is reasonably well served by public transport.
Those wanting larger apartments should look further to the north, where prices are lower, but there tends to be currently less soul to the area, although this is changing as its popularity increases.
This arrondissement offers relative calm away from the bustle of the 4th arrondissement.
