What to Expect in Paris' 5th Arrondissement

Paris is Paris. It's one of the most popular cities in the world. Thousands, if not millions of people flock to it every year. You might even already have a general idea of what the city is really like through watching movies and streaming shows online. But in reality, Paris is a lot more than what's shown in media. There are different sides to it, as showcased by the many arrondissements that make up the city. One, in particular, the 5th arrondissement, stands out in more ways than one. And here are some things to expect when you go—or possibly even move—here.

 

An Underrated Part of Paris

In many ways, the 5th arrondissement of Paris is one of the more underrated ones. The 1st arrondissement has the Louvre, the 7th arrondissement has the Eiffel Tower, and so on and so forth. From the outside looking in, you probably only focused on the aforementioned arrondissements because they have world-famous tourist attractions. But when you decide to move to Paris, you'll find that there are more which may suit you better.  The 5th arrondissement is possibly one of them. With the Latin Quarter situated here, this arguably has a lot more character and fascinating history than the others. Also, because it's less popular, it's also more peaceful here. 

Source: Flickr.com/ Wally Gobetz

 

A Bohemian Paradise

As already mentioned, the 5th arrondissement houses the Latin Quarter which, along with Montmartre, is one of the centers of the bohemian lifestyle in Paris. More so a hipster haven than anything else, you'll find that life here is relatively a lot more relaxed yet lively at the same time. The population here is more youthful than in other arrondissements, mostly made up of students of the nearby universities and colleges as well as young professionals who just landed their first jobs. In terms of establishments, charming cafés and vintage shops reign supreme in this part of the city. 

Source: Wikimedia Commons

 

Religion is Alive and Well Here

Ironically though, bohemians are often the ones opposed to religion or any traditional like that, right? So it is a bit curious to see that the 3rd arrondissement, which is very much a bohemian-centric area, also has a good number of places of worship. Either way, for those moving to Paris that are religious, this arrondissement is right up your alley. Those who follow Islam will likely pray in the Mosque of Paris, the most beautiful and the first of its kind set up in the French capital. While Roman Catholics can hear mass in the churches of St. Etienne du Mont and St. Julien le Pauvre. 

Source: Wikimedia Commons

 

Some Botanical Bliss

City life can oftentimes be suffocating, can't it? It's so easy to get overwhelmed by the fast pacing, the urban infrastructure, the condensed population, and more. So at times, it's better to go far away into the more rural areas, perhaps even be one with nature and all that jazz! But you didn't move to Paris just to slack off! In fact, it's possible moving here means you'll have more work, ergo, less time for vacationing in the French countryside. Fortunately, a place like the city's 5th arrondissement has its own patch of nature —Jardin des Plantes—that will give you some much-need botanical bliss! 

Source: Wikimedia Commons

 

Many Recreational Hotspots

More than just botanical bliss, you also need other places to reinvigorate you. Spots within the city that can get you excited about other things apart from work. And the 5th arrondissement has more than its fair share of such places. The Piscine Pontoise Paris swimming pool, for instance, is a community pool where you can flex your swimming skills and work out in the water. Though it can get a bit crowded at times, swimming here is still a great way to keep fit. There's Place de la Contrescarpe, a whole strip devoted to restaurants, bars, cafés, brasseries, and more! 

Source: Wikimedia Commons

 

An Entertaining Nightlife

If you want to continue your recreation well into the night, go for some extravagant entertainment! That's the way to go in a city like Paris. And if you want extravagant entertainment in the 5th arrondissement, there's only one place you can get it in: Paradis Latin. One of the premier cabarets in Paris, the shows here are just as spectacular—some might argue that they're even more so—than the world-famous Moulin Rouge! It's a glamorous display of eroticism and elegance with fine showmanship thrown into the mix. Definitely not a one-time-only experience to have when living in the city. 

Source: Wikimedia Commons

 

Living in the 5th arrondissement in Paris will introduce you to a new side of the French capital. One that's a little bit more colorful, a tad more exciting, and definitely livelier at best! It's a side that only the residents of this area know by heart! 

Still, there's no reason you can't go for a luxurious home when you do decide to move here! There's plenty of them in this arrondissement!