When I went to Paris in April 2002, one thing I wanted to do there was go and visit the Paris offices of the company that
I was working for in California. I was in contact by phone and e-mail with some of the company's French employees
and I thought it would be good to meet them in person.
I was working for in California. I was in contact by phone and e-mail with some of the company's French employees
and I thought it would be good to meet them in person.
So one day I took the RER down to Bourg-la-Reine, which is less than 10 minutes by RER train from
the Notre-Dame-St-Michel station in central Paris and just five kilometers (3 mi.) from the Porte d'Orléans.
Bourg-la-Reine ("Queenstown") is a little less than one square mile in area and has a population of 20 thousand or so.
The queen it was named for, back in the 12th century, was Adélaïde de Savoie, whose husband
was Louis VI le Gros ("fat king Louis"). These are some photos I took there.
The queen it was named for, back in the 12th century, was Adélaïde de Savoie, whose husband
was Louis VI le Gros ("fat king Louis"). These are some photos I took there.
The suburbs don't get much respect from people who live in Paris proper and love it there.
However, Bourg-la-Reine seemed like a pleasant place.
I wish I could have lived there back in the days when I was working in the Latin Quarter
as a teacher and student (1974-76), instead of in the suburb I actually lived in.
as a teacher and student (1974-76), instead of in the suburb I actually lived in.
Bourg-la-Reine to Paris would have been an easier commute than the one I had for those two years.
I lived the the northwest suburb called Asnières-sur-Seine, not far from the La Défense business quarter.
I lived the the northwest suburb called Asnières-sur-Seine, not far from the La Défense business quarter.
Asnières was a pleasant place to live. My apartment was a couple of floors up from a boulangerie,
so it always smelled like freshly baked bread and croissants, especially in the morning.
so it always smelled like freshly baked bread and croissants, especially in the morning.
Even so, I remember it took me about an hour every morning to travel across
most of Paris by train and either metro or bus to get to work. That commute wore me out.
most of Paris by train and either metro or bus to get to work. That commute wore me out.
Believe it or not I have never been to Bourg-la-Reine and neither to Asnières since I had no business in either town. The former, as you say, looks to be very nice. Do I recall correctly that Cheryl lived in Asnières but also in Antony?
ReplyDeleteCheryl lived in Antony in 1974-75. I was living in Asnières that same year. She went back to Illinois in 1975. I stayed in France until 1976. In Asnières I lived on the edge of Courbevoie and could easily walk to the Pont de Levallois station and go into Paris by metro. Or I could take the train to the Gare St-Lazare and get a bus or a metro to go to the Quartier Latin. I liked Asnières. There was a Saturday morning market just downstairs from my apartment, and a big supermarket just 5 minutes' walk away, plus a very good cheese shop.
DeleteFor an American, itching for the French lifestyle, a suburb like this would be just fine. You can still easily get in to the things that Paris proper has to offer, and lodging would surely be more reasonable.
ReplyDeleteI got my apartment in Asnières thanks to a French guy who had recently spent a year as a TA and grad student in Champaign-Urbana. His mother had the rental apt. in Asnières and it was available for not much money per month (about 80 dollars). I wasn't making much money.
DeleteBourg-la-Reine looks attractive. Lots of bars and bistros to hang out in.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure it would be a good place to live. I wonder what housing prices are like. Research is called for.
DeleteIt appears to have a town atmosphere as opposed to a city feel. Looking forward to the results of your research.
ReplyDeleteThe price per sq. meter for a house in Bourg-la-Reine is between 6 and 7 thousand euros. Here in Saint-Aignan it's not much more than one thousand euros per sq. meter. We'd never be able to afford a house in Bourg-la-Reine.
DeleteIs Covid pushing up suburban prices there? That's what's happening here.
DeleteI don't know about that. But I do know that Paris is very crowded, apartments are mostly small, and prices are sky high. It's not surprised that prices in the close-in suburbs would be high too.
Delete