It is well known that finding a place to live in Paris is no piece of cake. That is not to say that there are no empty apartments. In fact, take a stroll along the river Seine and you will soon realize that no light ever emanates from the apartments around you, especially those located on or above the second floor, or étage noble (French for “noble floor.”)
A typical Paris apartment building – that is an Haussmanian building – is divided into three tiers: the first tier includes the first floor (English for rez-de-chausée, where the concierge traditionally lived) and the second floor (French first floor). The second tier is composed of the third and fourth floor (étage nobles); followed by the third tier: the fourth floor (French fifth floor). I know it’s confusing…
The apartments on the étage noble are by far the most expensive. Often if the wealthy don’t live in them they use them as their second home or pied-à-terre. This partly explains why so many of these charming apartments along the Seine are empty. Who knows may be some day I shall too call one of them my Paris home sweet home.
Marché Saint Honoré, Paris 1
