Katie7

Hello:

We are thinking of renting an apartment near Les Halles on Rue des Precheurs. Is this a safe area?

Thanks!

Katie7

The apartment is in Montorgueil near Rue Pierre Lescot and Rue Berger.

Thanks!

avalon

MOntorgueilarea is vey nice,lots of shops and markets, cafes. I do not findant area of Paris particularly unsafe inside the city. Don't think I'd walk around the baneuiles (sp) at night but you would have no reaso to go there anyway

Katie7

Great-thanks!

Christina

ugh, I wouldn't want an apt in that location, but I don't think I'd be afraid to be there, exactly. I think that is an awful area in terms of the shops and people and it's pretty much right in front of Les Halles.

Now to be honest, I would worry more about safety if I were staying there compared to many other locations in Paris, the only time I was physically assaulted was clear to that location, in the daytime. Sure, I wasn't really hurt, but nothing like that has ever happened to me in any other part of Paris. There are a lot of strange characters hanging around that general area all the time, well, that's part of what it is -- a central gathering spot for many people. I'll give the facts so you can say this is meaningless, but I was just sitting on some low wall area in the late afternoon people watching or just resting (it was near the Nikki St Phalle foundtain which is a cople blocks east of there near the Pompidou center) and some guy came along behind me and just slugged me in the back for no reason whatsoever. It wasn't a tap, it was a hard slug. There are some unsavory characters who hang around that general area, in general, I don't know what his issue was, if he had some mental condtion or if he was on drugs, but this is not the kind of area I was choose to stay in as a residence, I'd be a lot more worried and just constantly be on edge whenever I was walking around or going to/from the metro.

This may seem normal to you, it's not to me and I have lived in big cities a lot of my life and don't expect guys to come along and hit me for no reason when I'm just sitting somewhere in broad daylight minding my own business.

I presume you know that is generally a business area with tons of small shops (not luxe ones) and people walking around and hanging out (street people) in front of Les Halles. I wouldn't refer to that as the Montorgueil area myself, even if it is several blocks away to the NW, but I don't know what locals would think it is called. I would think the Chatelet/Les Halles area (which is the name of the RER stop).

In any case the two streets you named are perpendicular to each other (P Lescot and Berger) and that corner is the SE corner of Les Halles forum, pretty much right outside the RER stop.

Suzanne2

I agree with Christina. We have stayed in the Montorguiel area a few times. I really like it there.
The area of this apartment is south of Montorguiel. It is close to the metro entrance and the Les Halles Shopping center. This is, I believe, the largest metro station in the city. Especially at night, there are lots of people just sort of hanging around in that area. We were told that alot of drug dealing goes on there. We have walked through the area numerous times and never had a problem. However , I would not choose to stay in that location.Another consideration, I think there is alot of construction going on there right now.

Seamus

That specific area (which i agree is not properly Montorguiel) is pretty seedy. Walked through a month or two ago and there is indeed quite a bit of construction and the area is rather gritty, and not in a charming faded glory way. Would not be anywhere near the top of my list for an apartment location. Unless you prefer to be close to the sex shops at the end of the block on rue Saint-Denis, keep looking.

StCirq

Bad choice. It's honestly one of the only areas of Paris I make SURE not to be in after dark.

avalon

I thought you said it was Montorguiel but I guess the above poster checked the actual locaation. If it really is that close to Les Halles I'd avoid it too I even avoid Les Halles during the day.

Katie7

Thanks everyone!

Christina: Sorry about your experience! That is really creepy.

The apartment is listed as being in Montorgueil, but I had a bad feeling about the area and really would like to avoid the Chatelet station.

This is the info we were needing. We'll look elsewhere.

Thanks again!

Katie

kerouac

Totally safe and wonderful area. If I didn't already live in Paris, I would choose a rental there in a heartbeat.

kerouac

I should mention that if you are familiar with New York City, it is similar to being close to Times Square. Many people want to be as close to that area as possible and to other it is poison. It is the most bustling and active area in the city, with all of the best transportation connections due to the fact that it is at Châtelet. As a lover of convenience and activity, I have a hard time understanding people who want to go to less convenient and less active areas when they are on a holiday. People like that do not take holidays in big cities.

RonMic

Would the Rothray Vauvilliers apartment right near the entrance to Les Halles be a wrong choice then? Is the 1st in general not such ahold option? What about near the Tulileries?

mamcalice

I, too, would avoid that Les Halles area. Not only is it a bit seedy, there are so many other lovely areas of Paris to look for an apartment. The Tuilleries area is lovely and should be quite safe.

Christina

I often take holidays in big cities and love big cities but hate the Chatelet area, I don't understand that remark. I never choose to stay near the main congested transportation hub of any city I stay in. Times Square might be the same in some ways, but not in others, as there is a reason for being there, the theatre district. There are many parts of Paris that are convenient to public transportation that are not that unpleasant, an area has to have more going for it than that. Besides, even though it is a big transportation hub, that works against it for your daily minor trips because it is so huge it's a lot more trouble just transferring there.

kerouac

No need for anybody to stay there if they don't like it. It is the #1 entertainment and dining district of the city of Paris, chosen overwhelmingly by Parisians, but tourists may go hang out among themselves at will. The whole reason that it is the largest pedestrian zone in Europe is because it is so popular. Please avoid it at all costs.