hi, I have a question on weather anyone can describe the area right near Rue de Levis 75017, Metro: Villiers at the border of the 8th and 17th Arrondissements across from the Parc Monceau..I am considering renting an apartment there for my wife and her mother while on vacation for a week in March. Everything I have read says that the area is nice and safe....I just don't want to take any chances and thought I would illicit your fantastic feeback in these forums...will they be ok taking this metro to other areas of paris?...any help/feeeback is greatly appreciated
marc

I believe that the Area of Parc Monceau is very nice.

You shouldn't have any problems--the area around Parc Monceau is fairly residential, with a number of good restaurants, and of course the Musée Marmottan (great Monet collection).

There's certainly nothing illicit going on in that neck of the woods Very nice area - very nice park!

Monceau is a very exclusive neighborhood - lots of expensive mansions. Many Nannys pushing buggies through the park & there are several exclusive schools in the area - kids flock to the park during lunch. One of the best Hector Guimard metro signs is there at the Monceau station. I have not walked down R Levis - so don't know what it's like.

There is an excellent outdoor market close by on R Poncelet. The corner of Blvd des Courcelles, R de Levis (street your apt is on), & r du Rocher has some very interesting building architecture. My Michelin map says that much of R Levis is a pedestrian only street.

Buy "Walking Paris" by Gilles Desmons and follow the walking itinerary through that area. There is an extensive description of the park & the area in the book.

Stu Dudley

It's very safe, but not as active as some neighborhoods in Paris and that is something you will notice on the weekends (at least, that was what struck me on the Rue de Courcelles side of Parc Monceau when I stayed there.) There are a number of embassies in the immediate area and while they are attractive buildings, it's not like having boulangeries, brasseries with long hours or things like that. I'm sure that with a little familiarity, people find everything they need within reasonable distance, though.

You can see some of the parc on the old film, "Gigi."

Comments from tripadvisor correspondents:

1. ...a quiet location and it's a short walk to the metro (Villiers). There's a great street market on the way to the metro, filled with friendly locals.

2. ...the vibrant Rue de Levis with its colourful daily market,shops and cafes. The metro ( Villiers )is nearby and you have a 15 minute walk to the lively Montmartre area with its many bars restaurants and of course the Moulin Rouge.

3. The Bistro Melrose was our favourite restaurant in the area. This provided an excellent two or three course meal with wine for a fixed price.

4. ...an excellent choice for those wishing to see as much as possible on foot. We walked to Montmartre, the Opera District, the Arc de Triomphe and down the Champs Elysees. The only time we felt in need of public transport was after hours of gazing in awe at the wonderful works of art in the Museum d'Orsay

5. Rue de Levis is full of eating places (market, supermarket, cafes, bakeries, you name it). Metro is very close - not a problem to do the sights.

thank you all for the great info!

That area is safe, just as practically every other spot in Paris is safe.

I worked for three years in an office overlooking the Parc Monceau. It was during French lessons in the Parc that I fell in love with my wife.

I'll leave it to you to decide if that makes the area safe or not !

-Kevin

Hi M,

The only thing unsafe about the Parc Monceau neighborhood is that the aroma of money might make you feel giddy.

Plan on a visit to the Jacquemart-Andre' Museum.

http://www.musee-jacquemart-andre.co...re/home_en.htm

>> It was during French lessons in the Parc that I fell in love with my wife.<<

Kevin
I presume that was BEFORE she became your wife!!!

Stu Dudley

My son lives in the 17th near Wagram. We really love this neighborhood- great shops, great cafes- great walking. Wide sidewalks, not touristy or noisy, interesting food markets - its where Parisians live. You can walk to the Arc de Triumph, Printemps, etc. Its the best says my husband! You will feel very safe walking anywhere, especially at night.

Kevin, you are so sweet!

Is the portion of 17th closer to 18th also ok? I have heard of comments made in Trip Advisor and other boards saying that the east part of 17th (ie close to 18th) is NOT ok.

I also found some affordable rentals in 17th close to Metro Rome and would appreciate your advice. Merci.

We stayed twice at a former Comfort hotel off rue de Levis in 1999, and loved this neighborhood. The street market is great to pass through as you come and go to the metro (Villiers). There are also TWO Monoprix there, one is groceries and the other is the department store. Parc Monceau is very near and there a lots of little cafes and bistros around, although I confess we didn't try them (we were revisiting others that we had liked on prior trips). We've moved to the other side of Paris for now, but will always be fond of Villiers!

As for the area between there and metro Rome, the train tracks pass through and I guess it takes away any charm. Can't say whether it's actually unsafe, but it feels dark and a bit deserted. We did enjoy a couple of dinners at a small restaurant called "le 27 Gourmand" on blvd des Batignolles, beyond the Rome stop. Speaking of "Batignolles", that area is supposed to have the village atmosphere, around the square and the market...

The rue de Levis is just like the rue Cler, only better because Rick Steeves has apparently never discovered it.

Just a small correction to Underhills comment. Musee Marmatton is actually near Parc Ranleigh in the 16th.

Marc, we rented an apartment on the rue de Lévis quite close to the Villiers Métro for three weeks in the fall of 2004 and absolutely loved this neighborhood. Between the activities of the market street, the Parc Monceau not far away, decent transportation (2 Métro lines - 2 & 3 - and several bus routes - you can take the line 94 bus from the edge of the Parc Monceau and connect to most anywhere in Paris), and super neighborhood restaurants, we'd go back in a heartbeat. Your wife and mother will be more than ok - they may not want to return <g>.