The centrepiece of the 9th arrondissement is the magnificent Opera Garnier - a reminder of the glamorous "Gay Paris" nightlife that was once in this district, with theatres, restaurants, cafes, and dance halls, the better known ones being the Moulin Rouge and Folies Bergere.
Boulevard Haussmann is renowned for its department stores, the Printemps and the Galeries Lafayette. To the north is the red light area of the Moulin Rouge, Pigalle and its music shops in the rue Douai.
Trendy residential areas are growing around the Place St George and the rue des Martyrs, and avenue Trudaine has a lively market street and village atmosphere.
Opera offers many spacious luxury apartments although the noise factor can be a deterrent. Apartments around the Grands boulevards are more affordable but the area can seem lacking in community spirit.
Property prices around the Place St George, rue des Martyrs and avenue Trudaine are surprisingly high with spacious well maintained buildings and a mixture of 19th century, art deco and art nouveau architecture.
