Montremart, Paris

More likely he's nuts. Don't sweat it.

Montmartre is a large area. Parts are charming, others not so much. So it depends upon the address of the apartment.

Do you mean Montmartre? What do you mean by Zone 12, the district? Montmartre is in the 18th. What is the name of the street?

Our French student grew up on the West Bank.......both parents doctors......house in the north of france and one on the Med. in the south of France..........so maybe he is just a little spoiled.

Montmartre is actually a rather small area. Strictly speaking it is the butte, or hill, which only has a radius of a couple of thousand feet. Montmartre is a small part of the 18th Arrondissement - - and to clear up one misconception: arrondissements have no names, only numbers. Earlier (prior to 1860) it was a settlement on top of the hill outside of the then-city limits of Paris. It became more of a village when, for tax reasons, a slew of folks deserted the city for cheaper digs. During the Napoleon III / Haussman era it, and other villages and settlements (such as Montparnasse), were incorporated into the present city of twenty arrondissements essentially contained within the mid-1900s peripherique. Montmartre, today, is a series of quiet, residential neighborhoods, mostly on the western, northern, and eastern flanks of the hill that is seldom seen by tourists who only make the Sacre Coeur to Place du Tertre circuit and scram.

The Quartier Pigalle (essentially the area between the Pigalle and Blanche metro stations whose main drag is Blvd Clichy) has the reputation of being a bit seedy. By definition, it is not part of Montmartre since it is not on the butte. I hadn't wandered there for years, but did so a couple of months ago while traveling with a buddy who had never seen the area. We were among a bunch of other meandering tourists (some with kids in tow) wondering what was sold behind the painted-over windows with "Sex Shop' signs. The place is not exactly intimidating - - if you look above the stores, you'll see that they're only the lower level of a bunch of regular residential buildings, just like in the rest of the city. It's not an area of short-time hotels, in fact, I read something not too long ago that said real estate prices in the area are soaring as it becomes populated by up-and-coming, younger professionals. Thus endeth the lesson in urban geography.

You are sooo right, after reviewing my reservation it is in zone 18! (Never should rely on memory any more) Thank you all especially Ed in Pensacola for your info. I feel much better, and am looking forward to the trip.
it is listed on VRBO.com/273036, and looks lovely. A two story flat in what appears to be an apartment complex with a gated courtyard.

Looks great, vrbo 273036. Lucky you. Your student is just from a different neighborhood and maybe a little spoiled. We stayed on Montmartre last summer and enjoyed it.

Thanks Bets!! And the price is also reasonable @1000 eu for the week divided between two couples! Oooh lala Paris here we come!

As Ed said the areas behind sacre Couer and Place Du tertre are like a visit to the past, wonderful areas to wander around in- not much to see but just a great feeling. You can find vineyards (if its still there0 and old world cafes and pubs. I enjoy spending time there

Go to Google Earth (version 6), enter the street address then use street view to see what the neighborhood looks like.

Google Earth is now web based, simply go to http://maps.google.com and enter the address and select street view.

Something else I thought of. It may sound macabre, but one of the places you should visit is the Montmartre cemetery nearby your apartment. It's the resting place of many famous Parisians. Google it for more information. It's also home to a hundred or so cats that an older gentleman has taken on the responsibility for feeding them. If you see him, slip him a few Euros. IIRC, he speaks English quite well.

Donna!!! The West Bank is in Israel. The Left Bank is in Paris. However, I'm betting that His Highness probably lived on the Right Bank in the 16th Arrondissement - - home of the hoity-toity, high-faluting folks (like Bets).

Please.............I must be watching too much news regarding what is going on in the Middle East if I said West Bank.........My French student definitely was brought up on the LEFT BANK.........and a famous French Movie Star was a neighbor! I am feeling so much better about this apartment!! Thanks everyone, I am printing out your responses, and will definitely visit the cemetery. I've done it in Florence, Italy..........and loved it! (I do know the difference between the Left Bank and the West Bank! )

Stayed in the same area and our taxi driver told us it was not a 'good area', but we had no choice so we went and stayed at a unique little place that was owned by a couple and the husband was an artist... he sketched us and it was great. Definitely not the Left Bank or the West Bank or whatever, but we had a great time, and I am sure you will too.