Area Guide, Paris

Paris in a nutshell - a quick corporate guide to the 8th Arrondissement.

The 8th Arrondissement of Paris is a central business district, and one of the 20 municipal districts in total that comprise the urban area. This neighborhood is home to banks, foreign embassies and the presidential palace, and boasts some of the city's most symbolic and historic locations, including the famous Arc de Triomphe and Champs-Élysées, as well as some of Paris's most prestigious shops and hotels. The 8th also features the famous Triangle d'or ("Golden Triangle") which is perhaps the most prestigious neighbourhood in the district.

History

The French capital city has had a colourful history over the last 2000 or so years. Settled by a Celtic tribe known as the Parisii by around 250 BC, the area subsequently provided the Roman Empire with a strategic location for defending Gaul 500 years later. Over the years, the city has seen Atilla the Hun attempt a siege, while the Vikings were bought off from sacking the city. Paris has seen Renaissance, Reformation, Revolutions, Enlightenment, Occupation and Liberation - indeed the Paris environs of today provide a living history lesson.

Doing Business

The 8th Arrondissement is a prime business location. According to the last national census taken, there are more jobs located here than in any other district of Paris. The 8th is also at the centre of France's premier economic region, which stretches westwards through Paris from the Opéra to La Défense and Val de Seine.

Unlike other major western economies, Paris has not specialized in a particular economic sector in the way that - for example - London has with banking and finance.  Economic activity within Paris remains incredibly diverse, and still incorporates elements of traditional manufacturing, and expected sectors such as tourism.  However, a lot of current economic activity in the city is focused on providing key business services, including Insurance, Financial and IT sectors, and many of these organizations choose to locate in the 8th Arrondissement.

Paris is also home to 25 Fortune Global 500 companies, including AXA and BNP Paribas, and only trails Tokyo in the rankings (source CNN).

Transport

Air - the majority of international flights arrive at Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle Airport, which is connected by RER line B to the centre of Paris. Other airports serving Paris include Orly and Paris Beauvais.

Eurostar - visitors from the UK can take advantage of the Eurostar services from St Pancras International, which deposit you centrally at Gare du Nord, where bus, Metro and RER rail connections offer services into the 8th.  Alternatively, a taxi should not take too long from the station to the 8th, dependent of course on the famous Parisian traffic.

Train - the mainline train station of 8th is Gare Saint-Lazare, the second busiest of Paris’s six main stations.  The station mostly handles suburban and some inter city services.

Metro - There are numerous Metro stops within the 8th Arrondissement, with Charles de Gaulle Etoile (Line 1) depositing travelers at the Arc de Triomphe, and three stations (George V, Franklin D Roosevelt and Champs-Élysées Clemenceau - also Line 1) serving the Champs-Élysées. The 8th is well served by many other Metro lines also.  The Argyll centre at Rue de Bassano is served by George V Metro station, while the closest to the Rue Beaujon centre is Charles de Gaulle Etoile Metro.

Bus - Gare Saint-Lazare is the main interchange for a large number of bus routes connecting to the rest of Paris.  A main bus route serving many locations within the 8th is line 43 (Neuilly Bagatelle - Gare du Nord).  For detailed information on travelling by Bus we recommend checking consulting www.ratp.info.

Where to drink

The 8th offers numerous lively bars and civilised places for a glass of wine. Le V (cinq) at the Four Seasons offers a good selection of cocktails, while the Atrium Bar at the Paris Marriott on Champs-Élysées offers cocktails overlooking the famous Avenue.  The Buddha Bar on Rue Boissy d'Anglais attracts a fashionable and professional crowd.  You can even order English tea in the bar at the prestigious Hotel Le Bristol on rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore. For additional bar suggestions consult a guide such as lonelyplanet.com or travel.aol.com.

Where to eat

There are a number of fine restaurants in the 8th, and plenty more within easy reach. However, reservations are always advisable, as fine cuisine is something of a Parisian (indeed, French) pastime and preoccupation.

If you’re in the 8th on business, there are numerous lunch and dinner venues to choose from. Lucas Carton on pl de la Madeleine offers haute cuisine and a reasonably priced lunch menu, while brasserie Le Boeuf sur le Toit on rue du Colisee offers Mediterranean dishes and a very reasonable prix fixe menu. Other high rating Gourmet restaurants include Lasserre and Alain Ducasse - Plaza Athénée.

Eatinparis.com features numerous suggestions, and lists 172 restaurants in the 8th alone, while timeout.com/paris gives an Anglo centric perspective on the food scene.

Where to sleep

A range of hotels to suit all budgets are located within the 8th, although the district is particularly famous for some of Paris’s top hotels. The Four Seasons Hotel George V is perhaps one of the more luxurious and traditional, while Hôtel de Vigny offers elegance and individually designed rooms just a stones throw from Champs-Élysées. Another luxury venue, the neo classical Hotel du Crillon, is located at the end of Champs-Élysées opposite Place de la Concorde, with easy access to the peaceful Jardin des Tuileries. A good standard budget option is Hotel Madeleine Opéra, located close to the Madeleine Metro, while Hotel Elysees Ceramic near to Charles de Gaulle Etoile Metro offers moderately priced art nouveau elegance.

What to do

The 8th Arrondissement contains some of the most famous sightseeing attractions in Paris. To the immediate west of the district lies the famous Arc de Triomphe which was commissioned by Napoleon and stands at the end of the Champs-Élysées, the symbolic heart of western Paris which itself leads east to the magnificent Tuileries Gardens and the grand Place de la Concorde. South of the Champs-Élysées lies the Grand Palais and Petit Palais, which were both built for the Universal Exposition of 1900 and are definitely worth a visit. The 8th is also situated close to the 1st Arrondissement which includes the wonderful Louvre Museum, and the famous Left Bank across the Seine is also within easy reach, with the Tour Eiffel a comfortable stroll away.

Enthusiastic shoppers will enjoy the retail therapy offered by the Champs-Élysées, with brands including Louis Vuitton and Gautier. Also worth visiting is the stunning, contemporary Citroën showroom designed by architect Manuelle Gautrand. Day to day shopping needs are served by the nearby Galleries Lafayette and Printemps, both on Boulevard Haussmann.

The Franglaise Experience

British visitors will find that there are numerous reminders of home located around the city, ranging from the comforting sight of newsagent W H Smith at rue de Rivoli, and the popular "Frog and..." chain of British style pubs which now offer 4 venues in the city, while there is even a British Shop at rue François Ponsard and an English Shop at rue Mesnil for British teas and jams.

Executive Offices Group

Executive Offices Group operates a state-of-the-art "Argyll" serviced office building within the 8th Arrondissement, at 29 rue de Bassano.