7th Arrondissement - Paris

Bourgeois-chic and quite expensive, the 7th arrondissement is home to several world-famous landmarks and museums. The area was originally a suburb (Faubourg Saint-Germain), built gradually from the 17th century on, as the swamps covering much of its terriorory were drained. Created for the aristocracy, the area neverthess became home to several democratic insitutions: today, the 7th arronidissement contains the National Assembly and many of the ministries of the French government.

The rather unavoidable architectural feature of the district is the Eiffel Tower (Tour Eiffel), built here in the late 19th century by Gustave Eiffel. Another world-famous attraction, the Musée d'Orsay (Orsay Museum) - a former train station transformed into one of the top museums in the world - is famous for its collection of Impressionist paintings.

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