Paris

1. Underground Catacombs: Beneath the streets of Paris, there is a vast network of tunnels and ossuaries known as the Catacombs of Paris, which contain the remains of over six million people. This eerie yet fascinating site offers a glimpse into the city's history and is often overlooked by those who visit the city. 2. The Paris Plages: Every summer, the banks of the Seine River transform into temporary beaches called "Paris Plages," where locals and visitors can relax on sand, participate in beach games, and enjoy cultural activities. This initiative brings a slice of the beach to the city, allowing residents to enjoy a unique urban summer experience. 3. Secret Vineyards: Paris is home to several hidden vineyards, such as the Clos Montmartre, which is a small vineyard located in the Montmartre district. This vineyard produces a limited amount of wine each year, and it is a charming reminder of the city’s historical connection to winemaking, often overshadowed by the more famous vineyards in the surrounding regions.

The Paris housing market in 2025 is showing signs of stabilization after several years of price declines and reduced transaction volumes. The average price to buy an apartment currently stands between 9,400 and 9,900 euros per square meter, with the most recent data suggesting an average of around 9,470 euros per square meter. To rent, median prices fluctuate between 30 and 38 euros per square meter monthly, depending on the arrondissement and property type, with furnished apartments often renting at the upper end of this range. Paris is a city of renters: about 65% of residents rent their homes, while just 35% are owner-occupiers. This high proportion of renters is unique among major European cities and is partly due to high property prices and the central role of rental housing, including furnished units. Publicly owned and social housing play a substantial part in the market. Social housing (logement social) is strictly regulated, means-tested rental housing reserved for low- and moderate-income households, and makes up around 25% of Paris’s housing stock. Public housing is a broader term that includes both social housing and other types of state or local government–owned dwellings. However, in Paris, these terms are often used interchangeably, as all publicly owned rental housing is managed under social housing rules and constructed with affordability for targeted incomes in mind. Public and quasi-public bodies have played a leading role in expanding and managing this sector, with roughly half of all rentals in Paris being social or public housing. This structure helps anchor affordability and maintain diverse population profiles in central Paris.

Paris faces a severe housing crisis characterized by high competition, a shortage of rental properties, and sharply rising costs, particularly impacting young people, students, and middle-income earners. Finding a rental in Paris has become extremely difficult, with prospective tenants often waiting up to six months just to secure a small studio apartment. The number of available rental properties in the city has dropped drastically—by 50% in a single year and 73% over three years—leaving around only 350,000 units compared to 600,000 thirty years ago. Students are especially hard hit, as there are only about 13,000 social housing units for a student population of approximately 300,000, prompting warnings from officials that tens of thousands may face homelessness. Even young professionals earning €2,500 to €3,000 per month struggle to find affordable accommodation, often spending up to half their income on rent despite government-backed guarantor programs. Mortgage rates have risen to nearly 4%, restricting access to home ownership and pushing more people into the rental market. The supply-demand imbalance is worsened by investors converting long-term rentals into short-term vacation lets, further reducing affordable options. These pressures leave students, single workers, families with modest incomes, and even well-paid professionals vulnerable to Paris’s worsening housing crisis.

The Paris city administration has set a target to achieve 40% affordable housing by 2035, increasing from 22% in 2021. Intermediate goals are set at 25% social housing by 2025 and 30% by 2035. Each year, Paris aims to build over 4,000 new social housing units and an equal number of affordable units priced at least 20% below market rates. The city also expands intermediate rental housing for middle-income residents and actively converts vacant buildings, such as former offices, into affordable housing. Mixed-income developments are promoted to ensure new projects contain both market-rate and affordable units, fostering social inclusion. Paris offers financial assistance such as rent subsidies, moving grants, renovation support, and homeownership loans for low-income households. The municipal bioclimatic development plan prioritizes climate adaptation, sustainable construction, and heritage preservation. Large-scale initiatives such as Cité 2025 focus on developing integrated, sustainable neighborhoods. The city further encourages cooperative housing, providing land and financial support for resident-managed projects as an alternative, inclusive model. These efforts are complemented by housing allowances like APL (Aide Personnalisée au Logement), which help eligible renters cover monthly costs regardless of nationality or employment status. Paris’s approach integrates affordability with long-term sustainability, aiming to address both social needs and environmental goals.

Les coopératives d’habitants à Paris représentent une part très réduite du parc résidentiel, constituant une fraction infime des quelque 1,13 million de résidences principales de la ville, bien en deçà des parts du logement social ou public. Le secteur est encore émergent, mais il progresse, porté par la volonté municipale d’élargir l’offre de logements alternatifs abordables et inclusifs. Les coopératives se distinguent par la propriété collective, la gestion démocratique, la sortie de la spéculation (prix plafonnés à la revente) et l’implication directe des résidents dans la conception et la gestion. Les habitants ne sont ni propriétaires individuels ni simples locataires : ils versent un apport modéré pour devenir sociétaires et bénéficient d’un droit d’usage à loyer régulé, souvent inférieur aux niveaux du marché ou du logement social classique. Ce modèle garantit stabilité, cohésion sociale et des loyers plafonnés. L’évolution récente s’appuie sur le cadre légal offert par la loi ALUR (2014), qui permet la création de sociétés coopératives d’habitants. Paris soutient ce modèle via des appels à projets, la mise à disposition de terrains, l’attribution d’aides financières, et l’intégration de la coopération dans ses politiques d’habitat participatif. La ville voit dans les coopératives un levier prometteur pour lutter contre la spéculation, favoriser la mixité et répondre à la demande croissante de logements abordables et durables.