The Parisian road network is composed of major boulevards and avenues, generally wide and straight, and some very long roads, leading from the city centre towards the outlying districts, from which streets often fan out in a star formation. In among these main lines, the layout of the streets is a direct result of the development and transformation of the city throughout its history.

The Right Bank (“rive droite”) refers to all the “arrondissements” north of the Seine River, and the Left Bank (“rive gauche”), to those south of the river.

The main central thoroughfares can help you to get your bearings. They give you an idea of the main directions and cross the city at right angles, with, in one direction the boulevard de Sébastopol running north to south on the Right bank (north of the river), and extending along the Left bank (south of the river) by the boulevard Saint-Michel; and another running from east to west with the rue de Rivoli, on the Right bank, and the boulevard Saint-Germain, on the Left bank.

The names of the streets are indicated on the corner of the buildings at each intersection.