The 9th arrondissement also boasts a very strong cultural scene—unsurprising when you consider that it is home to the Opera Garnier, revered by visitors and music lovers the world over, the legendary Olympia concert hall and the countless theatres and cinemas lining the Grands Boulevards (Haussmann, Poissonnière, Montmartre, des Italiens, des Capucines and de la Madeleine), not forgetting the Hôtel Drouot, whose 15 auction rooms are probably the finest in the world. Ideally located for exploring Paris thanks to its 19 metro stations, the 9th arrondissement is strategically positioned between Sacré-Cœur to the north, Gare Saint-Lazare to the west, Gare du Nord and Gare de l’Est to the east, and Madeleine, Place Vendôme and Bourse to the south.
Rare rooftop apartments
In addition to the Opéra National de Paris, this arrondissement is home to a number of tourist and cultural hotspots that make it such a distinctive part of the city. These include the Museum of Romantic Life at 9 Rue Chaptal, undoubtedly one of the most charming museums in the French capital thanks to its garden, the delightful Musée Gustave Moreau ((https://musee-moreau.fr/en)) at 14 Rue de la Rochefoucauld, the Musée Grévin, which Parisians mistakenly think is exclusively for tourists, and the very niche Museum of Freemasonry, housed in the Hôtel du Grand Orient de France at 16 Rue Cadet. One of the cultural jewels of the 9th arrondissement is not a museum but an entire neighbourhood: Nouvelle Athènes, which sits between the Rues Saint-Lazare, Blanche, La Bruyère and Notre-Dame-de-Lorette. Built in the 1820s by Augustin de Lapeyrière, Receiver General of Finances for the Seine department and the wealthiest figure of the Restoration, this unique complex of private mansions, squares and private lanes, theatres and prestigious residential buildings, the only one of its kind in Paris, owes its name (‘New Athens’ in English) as much to its Hellenistic architecture as to the crowd of artists, intellectuals and authors to which it was home until the late-19th century. As far as property is concerned, market values in this neighbourhood have remained pretty much unchanged for generations (around €12,000 to €14,000/m2). But what about the rest of the arrondissement? Prices tend to yo-yo between the eastern neighbourhoods, bordering the 10th arrondissement (along Rue Lafayette), which fall below the €8,500/m2 mark, and the most sought-after addresses among a boho-chic clientele, such as Rue des Martyrs, or the more middle-class Rue de Sèze, near La Madeleine, where prices can touch on €15,000/m2, or even far exceed that in the case of the most exclusive properties (private mansions, rare rooftop apartments or apartments with views over Paris). The 9th arrondissement is something of an El Dorado for French property buyers, often native Parisians looking for the hustle and bustle of SoPi (South Pigalle), Saint-Georges or the Pigalle neighbourhood, which managed to shake off its scandalous reputation decades ago. Given the proximity of the department stores (Galeries Lafayette and Printemps) of Boulevard Haussmann, the large number of trendy restaurants and bars, and the presence of excellent secondary schools in the area, including the highly celebrated Lycée Condorcet, it really is no wonder the area is so popular with families.
The 9th arrondissement offers a perfect mix of culture and style, making it a sought-after location for those looking to buy an apartment near Opéra Garnier. The area’s grand boulevards and theaters make it ideal for both living and investing. Discover other upscale areas like the 1st arrondissement real estate, 2nd arrondissement luxury apartments, 4th arrondissement heritage homes, the refined 8th, 16th, and 17th arrondissements on our Paris Rive Droite property listings.
