FR I -Semestre II.VII.66b. La vie en appartement

Français 1 - Unité 7, «Chez moi et dans mon quartier» p. 66b

C U L T U R E

Would you believe it if I told you this was a picture of Paris? The modern banlieue or suburb of Paris named La Défense is a reminder of what Paris would have looked like today had there not been such a public outcry to conserve its old buildings and traditional look!

Despite its bad reputation, La Défense can be actually quite interesting and even beautiful with its wide open spaces, extreme futuristic buildings painted in an explosion of colors and wacky statues, like this giant serpent emerging from a fountain. For students of architecture and urban planning, or tourists who have a lot of time to spare in Paris, visiting La Défense is a must

La vie en appartement - Apartment Life

Ce grand immeuble traditionnel se trouve à Place de la Madeleine. C'est une adresse très chic à Paris, pas loin de l'Opéra et les Grands Boulevards. La grande porte était pour les chevaux et les carrosses d'autrefois. Les magasins se trouvent au rez-de chaussée.

Il faut monter les escaliers! Pas beaucoup d’ascenseurs dans les anciens immeubles de Paris, c'est à cause de ça que les bâtiments traditionnels au centre de Paris ne sont plus hauts que sept ou huit étages!

Most French people in urban areas live in appartements or apartments. Newer high-rise apartment buildings have been built in the banlieue or the suburbs, In the cities, however, apartment houses are traditionally no more than six to seven stories high. (This is because, historically, there were no ascenseurs (UK lifts or US elevators).

Il faudra être un super-millionnaire pour avoir une appartement ici dans la Place des Vosges au quartier du Marais, un ancien quartier parisienne qui est devenu très à la mode. A l'extérieur, les immeubles sont très anciens (XVIIe siècle), mais à l’intérieur, ils peuvent être renouvelés et super modernes. Charmant et pratiques, c'est le best of two worlds, mon cher!

Il faut être fort et jeune pour vivre dans une chambre de bonne «typique» à Paris. Ce n'est pas facile de monter six ou huit étages si on est vieux et fatigué. (unless you are one of those middle-aged health nuts). C'est pour cela que je donne conseilles aux jeunes d'aller faire un séjour prolongé à Paris, before it is too late! La jeunesse ne dure pas longtemps; il faut en profiter!     

The ground floor, which often houses stores and shops, is known as the «rez de chaussée» (literally "level with the street"). The next foor, le premier étage for "first" floor above la rue or street), corresponds to the American second floor. Similarly, le deuxième étage in Paris corresponds to the third floor in New York, etc.

The cheap chambre de bonne will soon be a thing of the past. Owners are fixing them up, painting them bright and cheerful, decorating them stylishly and renting them out for a fortune!

The top floors of the old buildings or les anciens immeubles used to consist of individual rooms, one per apartment. These original maid's rooms or chambres de bonnes often became student rooms or ateliers or studios for struggling artists.

Lily is studying in Paris and living as an au-pair near Place Victor Hugo in the 16e arrondissement, one of the poshest quartiers in the city. She's from the People's Republic of China and was very lucky to find a good French family to work for as an au pair. The child she takes care of is adorable, the single mother is more of a French teacher and big sister than an employer, her chambre de bonne upstairs has a view of la Tour Eiffel and her immeuble has an ascenseur all they way up to her room, In Paris, you cannot get luckier than that!

Quite a few foreign students, especially young women, have got the option of going au pair: a free room upstairs plus breakfast and two hot meals in exchange for babysitting or looking after older relatives in the lower floors. Be careful, though! The au pair circuit is full of horror stories. Better to seek an au pair situation through a reputable network of people you know and trust. 

Some of these Parisian apartments are beautifully decorated. If you click on the picture above, you will go to the website where the apartment is advertised.

In recent years, as elevators have been installed in these buildings, so many of the top floor rooms are being combined to form new apartments. C'est dommage pour les étudiants et les artistes! Paris is quickly running out of cheap places to live for future students and artists!

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~ Français 1 - Unité 7, «Chez moi et dans mon quartier» p. 66b ~