For Paris, known as the 'City of Love,' surely 'Love Wins' here as well, right? After all, the French are socially liberated for the most part. It should come as no surprise that their capital city, Paris, has a more open attitude towards the LGBTQ+ community. But where exactly are they most welcomed? Although it'd be great if all 20 arrondissements were accepting of the community, that's not exactly accurate now, is it? There are certain neighborhoods and districts that are simply more friendly to LGBTQ+ people than others. And among them, here are the top five that those in the community shouldn't miss!
Le Marais
The
Marais district, even though it's one of the more upscale
neighborhoods in Paris, has always been more open to the LGBTQ+ community. Even more so than any other part of the city. This district, which sits between the
3rd and
4th arrondissements, has a history as a creative hub. Freedom of expression reigned supreme here, even when Paris was still a more conservative city. And as more and more people allowed freedom of thought to flow in Le Marais, so did the freedom to love who you love. Notably, the Marais district also plays a huge role every
Pride Month in Paris!
Montmartre
As the central bohemian hub of Paris, it's no surprise that
Montmartre in the
18th arrondissement is pretty open to the LGBTQ+ community. Though it's become notorious as a 'hipster haven' of sorts, it takes pride in the fact that it remains a neighborhood built in artistic expression and new ideas. Not to mention a particularly popular place for the youth in Paris, with most of those who live or have
moved here being students or young professionals. It's through this cultivation of a community of progressives and free thinkers that the notion of LGBTQ+ has become par for the course with them.
Montparnasse
There’s also
Montparnasse. Just like Montmartre and the Marais district, this neighborhood has a history of being a haven for artists and creatives. The likes of Picasso, Hemingway, Dali, and Fitzgerald used to frequent this district, discussing ideas and opening the doors to social liberation in the early 20th-century. Though Montparnasse itself has sort of faded in time when it comes to popularity, it does remain open to welcoming all those who want to settle down here. And yes, that includes the LGBTQ+ community as well. For now, a string of gay bars and the like here offer the best retreats for those in the community to have fun come nightfall.
Latin Quarter
None of the other Paris neighborhoods probably has as many young people as the
Latin Quarter. Known as 'University Town,' this area is also where a lot of
the city's well-known universities are located, hence most of those who reside here are students of said educational institutions. Now, how does that fare with the LGBTQ+ community? As already mentioned, it's the younger generation who aren’t just more open or more accepting of the community, but don’t even see them as any different from their own. In fact, it's often within student-heavy environments where LGBTQ+ rights are discussed.
Oberkampf
Though it's one of the more underrated parts of Paris, Oberkampf is definitely an up-and-coming district in the city, especially among the LGBTQ+ community. It helps that it continues to attract younger crowds to hang out and even settle down here, cultivating a community that, as previously mentioned, is more open to LGBTQ+. However, the strength of the district relies on its diversity. Whether you or old, no matter the race, gender, and sexual orientation, they have a place here in Oberkampf. Moreover, the nightlife scene here is alive and well and this often attracts the city's LGBTQ+ community too.
Source: Wikimedia Commons/ Patrick Nouhailler's pictures
Paris, known as the 'City of Love' is definitely a place where 'Love Wins' as well! The French capital is and has been welcoming of the LGBTQ+ community for a long time now and these specific districts stand as proof of that!
Don't worry about finding a place in any of these LGBT-friendly districts in Paris! There are a ton of
luxury homes to choose here as well!
