Exploring Paris's Sophisticated 7th Arrondissement: History, Art, and Landmarks

Historical Significance and Military Roots

• 📌 The 7th Arrondissement of Paris boasts a rich political and military history, deeply intertwined with France's past.
• 🏛️ Key landmarks include the gold-domed Invalides, the burial place of Napoleon Bonaparte, and the École Militaire, a prestigious military school founded in the 18th century.
• ⚔️ The Champ de Mars, located near the Eiffel Tower, was originally designed for military skirmishes and is named after the Roman god of war.

Napoleon Bonaparte's Enduring Legacy

• 👑 Napoleon Bonaparte, a notable student of the École Militaire, remains a divisive figure in French history, remembered for both his military genius and controversial actions.
• 📏 Despite the common perception, Napoleon's height was approximately 1.68 meters (5'5"), which was average for his era.
• 🎭 Anecdotes suggest he was tone-deaf but enjoyed singing, feared cats, loved hot baths, wrote a romance novel, and sometimes disguised himself to gauge public opinion.
• 👔 Napoleon significantly influenced the modern state and fashion, advocating for simpler, military-style clothing over elaborate wigs and knee breeches.

Artistic Hub: The Rodin Museum

• 🎨 The 7th Arrondissement is home to the Rodin Museum, dedicated to the renowned French sculptor Auguste Rodin, considered the inventor of modern sculpture.
• 💡 Rodin's most famous work, 'The Thinker,' was originally part of 'The Gates of Hell' and was intended to represent Dante or Rodin himself.
• 🤝 Rodin lived in the mansion that now houses his museum and made a deal with the state: he would donate all his work in exchange for the building's repair and its establishment as a museum.

Opulence, Embassies, and Expat Appeal

• 💰 Historically, the 7th Arrondissement has been home to the French upper classes since the 17th century, reflected in its numerous mansions, many of which now serve as embassies and museums.
• 🇺🇸 The area is a magnet for expats, particularly Americans, due to its historical significance, safety, beauty, and excellent shopping opportunities. It hosts institutions like the American University, American Library, and American Church.
• 🏛️ The arrondissement remains politically significant, housing the Prime Minister's residence (Hôtel Matignon) and the National Assembly.

Shopping and Historic Hotels

• 🛍️ Le Bon Marché, Paris's first department store established in 1869, offers a unique shopping experience with amenities like bathrooms, reading rooms for husbands, and games for children.
• 🏨 Adjacent to Le Bon Marché is La Grande Épicerie de Paris, and nearby is the Lutetia, a historic hotel created by the founder of Le Bon Marché to accommodate wealthy clients.
• 🎭 The Lutetia has a rich history, having been occupied by Nazi counter-espionage during WWII and later serving as a center for concentration camp refugees.

The Paris Sewers and Eiffel Tower

• 🚇 The Paris Sewer Museum, located in the 7th Arrondissement, offers tours of the city's extensive 19th-century sewer system, spanning over 2,600 km.
• 🐊 Urban legends of creatures in the sewers are true; a Nile crocodile named Eleanor was once found and relocated to a zoo.
• ✨ The Eiffel Tower, an iconic landmark in the 7th Arrondissement, was recently repainted its original golden hue chosen by Gustave Eiffel, for the first time in over 50 years, in preparation for the Olympics.