Meet our property hunters in Paris 11th arrondissement

Perle Rare has finalised 42 flat purchases in this arrondissement since 2005. High-quality apartments in this neighbourhood go for €12 to €14,000/m² (excluding notary fees), while the official average price is €10,290/m².*

As local residents often say, with the 11^th arrondissement “you either love it or you hate it!” There are no half measures in is this neighbourhood with two distinct identities. Originally a craftsmen’s district with a history of radicalism, the 11^th is now also home to an affluent young population and a vibrant night life. This arrondissement is hip, metropolitan and ideally located in the heart of the city.

6 districts:
– Belleville – Saint-Maur
– République – Saint-Ambroise
– Léon-Blum – Folie-Regnault
– Nation – Alexandre Dumas
– Bastille – Popincourt

Revolution and social struggles

The history of the 11^th arrondissement was changed forever by the storming of the Bastille in 1789, the moment which marked the beginning of the French Revolution. The fortress is long gone, but the square that bears its name is still the starting point for many marches and demonstrations by unions and social and political activists, with the procession often heading to the Place de la Nation, another great symbol of the French Republic and of this neighbourhood. The Bastille remains a potent symbol for the Left in France, and a place of celebration after election victories. This close association with social movements is partly a result of the district’s historic identity: for centuries, this part of the city was once home to many craftsmen, particularly carpenters and cabinet-makers. Residents and the local authorities are keen to preserve this artisanal tradition, helping to keep the 11th arrondissement’s tradition of craftsmanship alive in spite of rocketing property prices. The association based at 37 bis Rue de Montreuil celebrates and perpetuates the spirit of the old Faubourg Saint-Antoine, dating back to the area’s 17^th-century roots.

The heart of the city

While the 11^th arrondissement is not located in the dead centre of Paris, it is the first point of call for many of the capital’s night owls. The terraces of the cafés and restaurants which line the Place de la Bastille kick up a joyous but good-natured commotion into the early hours of the morning, with local residents right in the heart of the action. The 11^th is also home to a number of major cultural attractions, including the Opéra Bastille (Place de la Bastille), the Cirque d’Hiver (Rue Amelot) and the Café de la Danse (Passage Louis-Philippe). Add to that the Maison des Métallos (Rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud) and the MJC Paris Mercœur and you’ll see that the area caters as much to younger audiences as anyone else. The 11^th arrondissement is also renowned as one of the most densely populated neighbourhoods in the whole of Europe. Life here is resolutely urban, with just a handful of small green spaces such as Square de la Roquette (Rue Servan) and Square Maurice Gardette (Rue Rochebrune). Those looking for a peaceful, family-friendly residential neighbourhood had best look elsewhere!
Hip, vibrant, proud of its roots and its radical culture, the 11^th arrondissement is one of the most fashionable and youth-orientated parts of Paris. Some long-time residents grumble about this new-found cool factor driving up prices, but the immense majority of people who live here just can’t get enough of the energy and atmosphere!

* Source: Chambre des Notaires – 4^th quarter of 2022. These are “net vendor” prices and not market prices (which are generally 4% higher)