The success of the 6th arrondissement lies largely in its historic character, its neighbourhood life, its shops and its famous cafés. Saint-Germain-des-Prés has preserved its extraordinary heritage over the generations, with a large number of private mansions and buildings dating from the 17th and 18th centuries. The very top end of the market attracts a clientele that is both French and international, particularly American, but it also attracts a large number of Europeans, including Italians. These buyers are primarily looking for properties located at the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, which is the flagship area, rather than in the 6th arrondissement per se, although the Saint-Sulpice and Luxembourg neighbourhoods are also often very sought-after. If you were hoping to find a large family apartment here, though, you’d better think again, since even the most luxurious properties tend to span a maximum surface area of 100-200 sq.m (1,076 - 2,152 sq ft). Many of the buildings in the 6th arrondissement are old, often dating from the 18th century, and have been largely preserved in their original configuration, unlike those in the 7th arrondissement, which date from the 19th and 20th centuries and are considerably larger.

The beating heart of historic Paris

The 6th arrondissement is bursting with micro-neighbourhoods, its most prestigious location undoubtedly being the closely guarded Place de Furstenberg, much loved for its authentic charm. The ‘place’ is, in fact, a street that was, in the late-17th century, the forecourt of the abbot’s palace that can still be seen today and was originally built by Cardinal Charles I de Bourbon, uncle of Henri IV. If you look closely, you’ll see that the most popular area of the 6th arrondissement has clearly defined boundaries, lying distinctly between Rue Bonaparte, Rue Dauphine and the Seine. That said, even within such a clearly defined area, property prices change and demand fluctuates from one street to the next! Of course, there’s more to life than Saint-Germain-des-Prés, and the 6th arrondissement has another treasure up its sleeve in the form of the Jardin du Luxembourg. This 25-hectare (62-acre) private estate, which is open to the public, was created in 1612 at the request of Marie de’Medici, Queen of France and mother of Louis XIII. From Romantic poets to New Wave film-makers, many have highlighted the unrivalled charm of its tree-lined paths, a veritable ode to love à la parisienne. After all, the 6th arrondissement has truly established itself over time. It is also a pretty safe bet since the property market is still at its peak here, with the northern part of the arrondissement, around the Odéon, Saint-Sulpice and Saint-Germain-des-Prés, the most sought-after and expensive area and the southern part near Notre-Dame-des-Champs and Montparnasse still very popular but less pricey than the north.
For many buyers, however, the heart of the 6th arrondissement is Odéon - a highly sought-after district that runs from around the Musée d’Orsay and Rue de Lille, on the border with the 7th arrondissement, to Rue Dauphine along the Seine, on either side of Boulevard Saint-Germain. Note that in this very exclusive market it is vital that the properties brought to market be flawless. The 6th arrondissement can be proud of the fact that it is one of the beating hearts of historic Paris, a district likened to a large village whose charm has become well-known over recent decades, and there’s nothing to suggest that this trend is about to be reversed any time soon. 
 

From the elegant streets of Saint-Germain-des-Prés to the Jardin du Luxembourg, the 6th arrondissement is one of Paris’ most prestigious areas for luxury living. Just steps away, the 5th arrondissement and 7th arrondissement provide additional upscale real estate options. To explore the entire Left Bank’s exceptional market, see our listings on Paris Rive Gauche.