Descriptions of Parisian "Arrondissements",
the Departements in which Paris is divided.
(Gargoyles on the Notre Dame)
The 1st arrondissement
is the stronghold of the Toreador, since it is in the Louvre that François Villon has established his principal haven. The Museum holds the fantastic private galleries of the Prince, which, had they not been hidden in closed sections of the louvre, would have drawn the attention of the proper authorities, as regards art, long ago.
This frontage serves François Villon more to enrich his collection, than to avoid hypothetical troubles with the authorities.
The 1st Arrondissement is thus the hunting ground of the Prince and his guests. One also notices that the Prince moved a whole part of the local population (old Market places and the unclean people associated with them), considered to be too vulgar, to replace them with people more to his tastes.
One thinks in particular of homosexuals and the flourishing artistic movements by which they are accompanied.Like all the Vampires having reached a worthy age, The Prince of France is a living anachronism. To young Vampires his manner of dress is eccentric, he also has trouble keeping up with the evolution of speech patterns. In the case of the Prince of Paris in fact, whole districts remain untouched, for his delight.
Monuments:
La conciergerie:
The prison in which the famed Marie-Antoinette (the wife of king Louis XVI, who was beheaded during the revolution). She spent three years in this "Palace turned prison" before being beheaded herself.
Le Louvre:
Possibly the most famous museum in the world, The Louvre serves as Villon's haven, and the surrounding grounds are considered a permanent Elysium.
The 2nd Arrondissement is the stronghold of the Ventrue clan. It has preserved its practices there for centuries. District of Embassies, but also district of businesses and prestige it is used as a nexus for the financial activities and policies of the clan.
Not long ago the Giovanni tried to establish a beachhead by taking the control of two Television channels which had their offices in the district,an act which did not please the Prince, who replaced one of these two channels by a "culture channel" (the humour of the Prince is evident in this act) and offered the other channel to one of his Childer.
This act silenced many of the Prince's Ventrue opponents, who claimed for a time that Villon was financed by the Giovanni.Whatever the case may be, the Prince granted the district to the Ventrue clan as territory for hunting. Vampires who would like to have a "refreshment" in this part of town need the Ventrue Primogen's permission.
Monuments:The National Library of France:
One of France's largest, and possibly the most beautiful libraries, it has a large collection of original manuscripts on a wide variety of topics, from as many different ages.
And…
The stock enxchange market...
The 3rd Arrondissement does't really have a Master, it is a place very loved by the young Toreadors, who make there their first steps there under the benevolent eye of the Louvre. It is not uncommon for some young Toreador to come from the other end of the world to initiate themselves in subtleties of their Clan and to perfect their art there. The population of this district is in perpetual movement, but one is sure to find Toreadors there.
The Island of the City and 4th are the reserved hunting grounds of the Nosferatu Clan. It is said that the Prince found the Notre Dame so ugly, that he decided to offer it ,with it's surrounding neighbourhoods to the only Clan able to survive such ugliness.
The Nosferatu Clan, cared little about that remark but benefitted from this occasion to procure a hunting ground that was actually above it.
Before this time in Paris, as in all the large European cities their horizon was limited to the underground and the sewers. Contrary to the Ventrue and Tremere, Nosferatu couldn't care less about who hunts in their territory, because, the flow of the visitors brings new information to them.
Monuments :Mairie de Paris
The City Hall of Paris
In the corridors of the town hall of Paris, the ghouls of VILLON court those of the Giovanni and Ventrue. Under the amused glance of the Syndicate Technocrats.
Notre Dame de Paris:
Gothic masterpiece. Notre Dame was designed by Maurice de Sully and was built between 12th and 14th centuries (1163-1345). The road distances in France are calculated starting from a " 0 km " point situated on the square.
After having climbed 387 steps, superb panorama unfolds, the side arcs of the cathedral frame the sprawling city far beneath.
It is said that Fantomas has his hideout under the cathedral, as of yet no one has tried to find out.
The Fifth is the University disctrict of Paris, it is riddled relatively inexpensive restaurants and clubs, to cater to the students.
From time immemorial it has been coveted by the clans of the Camarilla.
It was the Tremere Clan that followed up on it idea by creating the Sorbonne (the Sorbonne is THE most famous university of paris, they even sell Sorbonne T-shirts, much like Yale does for example).
But the centuries of competition and infighting ended up wearing out the authority. Finally the Prince intervened, by entrusting this district to the Brujah. Without doubt, to pay homage to the Clan Elders, and to push young people to follow their example.
Wasn't the Brujah Clan the Clan of the Scholars?
The Sixth used to be a for philosophers and artists, who frequented two cafes: "Les Deux Magots" (not MAGGOT, Magot is roughly a singular form of the english word "Loot") and "Le Cafe de Flore" Both of which remain until this day, a trendy place for tourists, and a place where young writers hope to attain greatness, probably attracted by the myth of their forgotten heroes.
It is also home to the "Ecole des Beaux-arts" (formerly a Covent).
Les Beaux-Arts is, in fact, one of the most famous Art Schools in the world, indeed many Toreador went there in their Living days.
The 7th is an open hunting ground, it, like 6th, was cut up into many territories for as many Ancillas and Neonates alike.
But, it is a fact it is mainly under the control of the Regent, which makes her, in a non-official way, the Boss of this part of Paris" Les Invalides " is the only zone of which one can say that it escapes the influence of the Regent in this district, and she is not liking it.
They were offered to certain members of Clan Brujah, who were very attached to the person of the Emperor (Napoleon), by the Prince of Paris Himself in exchange for services the nature of which are not really known.Eiffel Tower:
The most known monument in the world (317 meters, 10100 tons). Set up by Gustave Eiffel in 1889 for the World Fair of which it was the crowning glory.
On the top we can find all the antennas which broadcast the Television and Radio of Paris.
Hotel National Des Invalides :
A huge structure, originally built by Napoleon, to function as a hospital for his armies, it later became his tomb as well, the region called "Les invalides" includes the surrounding neighbourhood of the building and is, obviously, named after it.
The 8th District is known for, the ever splendid, Champs Elysees, the most famous shopping avenue in the world.
For the Vampires the interest in it is even greater than that of the tourists, as this avenue is home to one of the most popular Elysiums of Paris: Le Queen.Le Queen is not only club (gay-club) which serves as the meeting point for the Vampires of the Capital, Le Palace, for example belongs to Primogen Malkavian. In any event the Vampires are by nature forced to take part of the Parisian night life, and what better front for a creature of the night than clubs that open at sundown. (parisian clubs and bars open at 11:00 PM and close at 6:00 AM with breakfast.(and croissants for everyone)
The Champs-Elysees holds all of the " De-luxe " fashion stores, many of which are owned by the Toreador and run by their ghouls, making it their primary source of revenue in Paris.
Monuments:
L'Arc de Triomphe:
(50 meters high and 45 wide, that's about 167 feet by 150 feet)
L'eglise de la Madeleine:
The key point of this part of the Capital is without any doubt the Opera, which is under the direct control of the Prince, who regularly offers it to his close relations for sumptuous spectacles. No dignitary of the Camarilla escapes these vast orgies, apotheosis of Toreador art of partying, which are used to test some and to punish others. To be or not to be invited to one of these evenings can make you powerful, or a loser within the Parisian vampiric society.
Monuments:Opera National De Paris - Garnier Opera:
Masterpiece of theatrical architecture of the 19th century, the Garnier Palace, built by Charles Garnier and inaugurated in 1875 presents of the lyrical and choreographic spectacles.
nothing for now.
11th and 15th have in common that they are under the responsibility, or at least partly, of the Tremere Clan. They are the vestiges of the hand of the Clan put on the Capital during the second world war. Although a large part of the Parisian administrations were purified of their influence after this conflict, the Prince could not reduce the power of the chantries at "Montparnasse" and "Nation" without being likely to attract the fury of the Tremere council.
the 12th 19th and 20th Arrondissement
The East of Paris is the zone regarded as the worst by the Prince and his court. It is a kind a waste land, that no-one really seems to want to occupy.Rumours circulate about the presence of the Sabbat in this zone, but that does not seem very likely. On the other hand there is not a doubt that the anarchs squatting in the South, in the neighbourhoods of the "Gate of Italy" (paris has many "gates" it's a name for roads that lead OUT of Paris). Regularly the sherrif organizes punitive strikes in order to make sure they respect the traditions, and to make them recall the existence of the Prince…
This area is where the infamous fortress/prison called the "bastille" used to be, the fall of the Bastille is interestingly enough one of the things that incited the American Civil war.
This Section of Paris has a reputation every bit as bad as the 12th, it is also the "chinese quarter" of paris, with hundreds of restaurants, shops and other things that cater to Asian people.
The Catacombs run under much of this area, making it a prime hunting ground for the Nosferatu, even though they take care not to disturb the odd one or two Kuen-jin (a form of asian vampire) who hang around every now and then.
The 14th is a pretty empty place, save for a few landmarks of note,the 14th is considered "open" hunting ground for all, indeed the Malkavians who control it from the many Hospitals, in particular the "St Anne" hospital, which is, naturally a Mental Institute (in Paris, telling someone to "go to Saint Anne" is telling someone you think their fucking nuts)
The Montparnasse Cemetary
The famous poet Baudelaire (the VERY first Goth back in the 1800's) is buried here, some say the ghosts of his wild and fiery passion still haunt his grave.
The Catacombs
The main tourist entrance to a "sealed off area" of the catacombs is in the 14th as well, though no self-respecting vampire would take that entrance...
11th and 15th have in common that they are under the responsibility, or at least partly, of the Tremere Clan. They are the vestiges of the hand of the Clan put on the Capital during the second world war. Although a large part of the Parisian administrations were purified of their influence after this conflict, the Prince could not reduce the power of the chantries at "Montparnasse" and "Nation" without being likely to attract the fury of the Tremere council.
The Montparnasse Tower
The highest bulding in paris, black monolith towers over the city, riddled throughout the 209 meter high building are the working quarters of many a Tremere, the foundations run over 70 meters deep, leaving plenty of room for secret chambers and such.
the 16th and 17th Arrondissement
The West of Paris is the gate which leads to the Gangrel grounds of the Parisian region (in any case, nobody else really wants this area as it is infested with Garou). This is one of the reasons that the other Clans, except the Tremere, prefer to lair near "La Defense" (La Defense a new area, just outside of Paris, with many skyscrapers and luxury buildings,a little to the south is a large forest, the Garou territory)
Lately, certain Elders started to complain about the policy of the Prince, believing that they have no right to such a large territory.
18th is a gate towards Brujah North, although there is nothing official, this zone is currently controlled by Brujah who make use of it for refuge for their friends from the North, but also as ground for exchanges with the anarchs of the Parisian East. Even the normally firm Sherrif closes his eyes to this zone, ias long as the anarchs remain reasonable.
For a while now, this zone has attracted a new type of inhabitant, neonates of the Gangrel Clan, which having not succeeded at adapting to the urban living, move here. They are in general well received by the anarchs who seem to understand them better that their own clan.
Basilique Du Sacre Cœur
