Paris by the Numbers – 2nd and 3rd

I’m continuing this week with my Paris by the Numbers series with the 2nd and 3rd arrondissements, the two smallest neighborhoods in Paris. As I mentioned last week, there are 20 arrondissements in Paris and I’m covering each and every one over the next few months. The landmarks I have chosen in each neighborhood are the ones that appealed to us, so this won’t be an inclusive list of sites for each neighborhood.

As a side note, theTravelsketcher and I have been very fortunate to have visited Paris on many occasions. When we lived in Normandie, Paris was just two hours away by train, so we visited often and became familiar with this enchanting city.

The 2nd arrondissement aka, the Bourse (stock market), is the smallest neighborhood in Paris, and is located on the right bank of the River Seine. It’s known for its glazed, covered shopping arcades, and is considered the banking district in Paris.

It became a popular shopping district in the early 19th century as its covered shopping areas with ornate, tiled floors, allowed wealthy Parisians to shop in well-lit, clean spaces, away from the dirty, wet streets of the time.

These commercial centers increased in number, and by the mid 19th century, there were several dozen, many of them are still open today.

The 2nd isn’t as popular as other neighborhoods, since it is so small and doesn’t have many popular tourist destinations like other areas, but it is absolutely worth a visit.

The 3rd arrondissement however, also located on the right bank, has churches, museums, art galleries and other monuments. Known as the Marais (even though part of the Marais spills over to the 4th) it is the second smallest arrondissement in Paris.

If you’re looking for museums, you’ll find the Musée national Picasso-Paris. We didn’t visit it since we have visited the Picasso Museum in Barcelona on several occasions; but the reviews are quite good.

The 3rd is the home of the oldest private house in Paris, built in 1407 by Nicolas Flamel, the 14th century scribe and alchemist referenced in the Harry Potter series.

Nicolas and Perenelle were married in 1368, and she brought her fortunes from two previous marriages to their union. They were quite wealthy and benevolent and gave generously to those in need. It is believed that he fabricated the philosopher’s stone, which supposedly turns base metals into precious metals, and provides an elixir that gives immortality. If you want additional information, just read the Harry Potter series. 😉

That wraps up the 2nd and 3rd arrondissements; what do you think of Paris’ two smallest neighborhoods? As always, I would love to hear from you, so feel free to share your thoughts and comments.

If you’re curious about what we’re doing at the moment, check out theTravelsketcher’s current post here.

Wishing you grand adventures,

Tricia