The 7th arrondissement of Paris VII e arrondissement is one of the 20 arrondissements of the capital city of France. It is known for being, along with the 16th arrondissement and the commune of Neuilly-sur-Seine, the richest neighbourhood in France. Situated on the Rive Gauche —the "Left" bank of the River Seine —this central arrondissement, which includes the historical aristocratic neighbourhood of Faubourg Saint-Germain , contains a number of French national institutions, among them the National Assembly and numerous government ministries.
The arrondissement has been home to the French upper class since the 17th century, when it became the new residence of France's highest nobility. The district has been so fashionable within the French aristocracy that the phrase le Faubourg —referring to the ancient name of the current 7th arrondissement—has been used to describe French nobility ever since. During the 17th century, French high nobility started to move from the central Marais , the then-aristocratic district of Paris where nobles used to build their urban mansions [ 5 ] see Hotel de Soubise , to the clearer, less populated and less polluted Faubourg Saint-Germain.
The district became so fashionable within the French aristocracy that the phrase le Faubourg has been used to describe French nobility ever since. After the Revolution many of these mansions , offering magnificent inner spaces, many reception rooms and exquisite decoration, were confiscated and turned into national institutions. The French expression "les ors de la Republique" literally "the golds of the Republic" , refers to the luxurious environment of the national palaces outstanding official residences and priceless works of art , comes from that time.
During the Restauration , the Faubourg recovered its past glory as the most exclusive high nobility district of Paris and was the political heart of the country, home to the Ultra Party. After the Fall of Charles X , the district lost most of its political influence but remained the centre of the French upper class ' social life.
During the 19th century, the arrondissement hosted no fewer than five Universal Exhibitions , , , , that have immensely impacted its cityscape. The Eiffel Tower and the Orsay building were built for these Exhibitions respectively in and The arrondissement has a total land area of 4.
