Each Bank has its own history and its own personality. Basically, barring some exceptions, the Right Bank is considered the place for commerce and business, for stately monuments and haute couture houses; whereas the Left Bank, with its numerous colleges and universities, evokes knowledge and the intellectual world, as well as the artistic and bohemian spirit.

Paris was made up of 12 arrondissements until the year 1860, when it was decided to define a larger Paris, composed of 8 additional arrondissements formed from bordering towns such as Montmartre, Belleville, Ménilmontant, etc. Today Paris’ arrondissements spiral outwards in an ascending and clockwise order, starting from the 1st arrondissement, in the center of the city.

Most of the arrondissements are located to the north of the Seine river. Only the following arrondissements are located on the Left Bank: the 5th, 6th, 7th, 13th, 14th, and 15th.