Today this area consists of the Louvre Musuem, the Palais Royal, the beautiful Jardin des Tuileries (a wonderful place for a picnic) and so much more.
The Marais: 3rd and 4th Arrondissements
As the first two arrondissements was the seat of royal power, the 3rd and the 4th was the seat of noble power. They were built over marshlands, hence the name Marais. It now encompasses Centre de Ville (downtown Paris) and Hôtel de Ville (Town Hall). It is the favored spot of Parisians to have brunch on a Sunday and also the home of the Place de Vosges, the first royal park in Paris to be opened to the public.
The Islands of Paris
These two little islands in the middle of Paris, Île de la Cité and Île St. Louis, are filled with history and mark the location of the birth of France's capital. Notre Dame Catherdral, La Saint Chapelle, and the Palais de la Cité are all found there as well as the oldest hospital of Paris, Hôtel Dieu. These islands are part of the 1st and 4th arrondissements, so they are considered a part of central Paris. I advised any history buff to try this island hopping tour.
The Latin Quartier: 5th Arrondissement
This part of Paris dates back to when Paris was still a Roman settlement, so of course you'll find a lot of Roman influence here. The Pantheon, the Sorbonne, and Rue Mouffetard (a well-known market street ) can be found here as well as winding cobblestone streets of old Paris.
