Does Paris have a center? The answer is not really! What’s known as ”Paris intra-muros” – everything within the main péripherique, which is most of arrondissements 1-20 – is considered central by most Parisians.
However, if you’re new to the French capital, and keen to discover the city’s most historic neighbourhoods, then yes, perhaps there is a center to Paris. Unfortunately, this ”center” is so replete with historical sites, monuments and cultural addresses that we’ve had to split this article in two. Read on to find out about the best things to see and do in arrondissements 1-3: