Pere Lachaise cemetery, the final resting place of many well known names, is the only real tourist attraction in this arrondissement. The district is otherwise a lively residential area with a village atmosphere, popular with young families due to its local commerce, markets and parks. A trendy up-and-coming area is around the Jourdain church.
Place Gambetta is also very popular due to its shops and small businesses, schools, markets, and trendy bars and cafes. Many artists and families have settled here, attracted by its spacious apartments, elegant Haussmann buildings and a good community spirit.
Nation, to the south, is a hive of commerce, cafes, markets and traffic. A popular starting point for demonstrations, it is also the Parisian gateway to the east.
The 20th provides good access to the Peripherique (the road which encircles and delimits the city of Paris), Charles de Gaulle airport and the woods of Bois de Vincennes.
Properties around Pere Lachaise, Jourdain and Place Gambetta, with their predominantly Hausmann-style buildings, have recently shown a rapid increase in price, but overall, the area still remains comparatively inexpensive.
There is a mix of traditional and modern architecture and - a rare find in Paris – tiny, pedestrian streets with free-standing houses, some with private gardens, discretely hidden amongst the apartment blocks.
The 20th is steadily becoming more and more gentrified, but remains a popular option for first time buyers who would otherwise be priced out of the market.
