The American community in Paris

 This is a list of available services for Americans visiting or living in Paris

  France Today : a very good American magazine about France, culture and travel with excellent writing.
Associations

AARO (Association of Americans Resident Overseas)
Mona Bismarck Foundation
34 avenue de New York
75116 Paris Tel33 (0)1 47 20 24 15

email : aaro@aaro.org

This group is on top of everything Americans need to know about taxes and citizenship in France
 AAWE (Association of American Wives of Europeans)
Mona Bismarck Foundation
34 avenue de New York
75116 Paris
tel (0)1 40 70 11 80
email : aawe@wanadoo.fr
 This group of 600 American women married to Europeans and living permanently in France is active in the fields of bilingualism and citizenship. It sponsors many activities for members' children (Thanksgiving and Halloween), offers scholarships, and holds a largely attended Christmas Bazaar each year
 WICE (Women's Institute of Continuing Education)

20 Bld du Montparnasse 75015 Paris

Tel.33-(0)1 45 66 75 50

An nonprofit cultural and educational association providing courses in Art History, Living and Working in France, History and Culture, Creative Writing workshop, Studio Arts, Languages and TEFL. There are also opportunities for volunteering.
 CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange)

 Tel 33-(0)1 44 41 74 74

or (0)1 58 57 20 50

 Student exchange programs
 AWG (American Women's Group)

32 rue du Général Bertrand 75007 Paris

Tel. 33-(0)1 42 73 36 74 or (0)1 42 73 28 72

email: awgparis@wanadoo.fr

The AWG has been fostering Franco-American ties since 1949. This dynamic group includes both longtime residents and newcomers who find a touch of "home" while learning more about France through a variety of activities and courses.
 American Field Service - Vivre Sans Frontières  46 rue du Commandant Jean Duhail 94132 Fontenay-sous-Bois Runs international exchange programs for 15 to 18 year olds. 25 local committees in France.
Association France-Amériques

 9/11 av.Franklin D.Roosevelt 75008 Paris

Tel. 33-(0)1 43 59 51 00 email:france-ameriques@wanadoo.fr

 A well established association in a beautiful 18th Century building, ideal for Franco-American social and professional events.
 Franco-American Commission For Educational Exchange

 9 rue Chardin 75016 Paris Tel. 33-(0)1 45 20 46 54

or (0)1 44 14 53 60

For U.S. candidates wishing to attend French Universities (and French students who want to study in the U.S.)
 Anglo-American Press Association of Paris  c/o Elisa Kitson 7 rue Tardieu 75018 Paris  visit the AAPA website

 And also :

  • BCWA (The British and Commonwealth Women's Association in Paris), 157 rue du Faubourg Saint Honoré 75008 Paris, Tel. 33-(0)1 47 20 50 91
  • The American Club 34 avenue de New York 75116 Tel (0)1 47 23 64 36, founded in 1777, a club for high-level business contacts
  • Universities Alumni Groups : Berkeley (0)1 46 07 00 43, Boston Univ. (0)1 44 62 20 53, Bryn Mawr (0)1 40 56 06 18, Columbia (0)1 43 35 44 63, Georgetown (0)1 47 27 48 43, Harvard (0)1 60 72 43 78, M.I.T. (0)1 40 56 03 23, Paris Alumni Network (0)1 39 67 72 27, Princetown (0)1 45 49 04 75, Stanford (0)1 45 53 28 84, Wellesley (0)1 45 53 00 42, Yale (0)1 48 04 51 75
  • More to come
 DID YOU KNOW THAT .... ? Zip codes in France are 5-digit numbers : the first two are the "départements" (counties) in alphabetical order from Ain (01) to Yonne (89), Paris being 75 and its region from 91 to 95 ; within Paris, the 20 "arrondissements" (precincts) go clockwise (or more precisely "snail-shell-wise") from the very center of Paris (75001) to the North-East part of the city (75020).

Institutions, churches, etc...

 The American Church

 65 Quai d'Orsay 75007 Paris,

Tel.33-(0)1 40 62 05 00

Information Center : tel.33-(0)1 45 56 09 50

All Protestant Denominations. An active meeting place for the international community with a much consulted bulletin board for jobs and rooms. Regular church services and Sunday school. (The American Cathedral 23 Avenue George V is the other major Protestant church in Paris)
 American Embassy & Consulate

 2 rue Saint Florentin 75001 Paris,

Tel.33-(0)1 43 12 22 22

 Self-explanatory!!
 The American Library

 

10 rue du Général Camou 75007 Paris
Tel.33-(0)1 53 59 12 60
 Indispensable if you love to read, don't have zillions of dollars to spend on every book that comes out and are staying in Paris long enough to make it worth your while. Events : "Evening with an Author", "Evening with an Expert", etc... Also great for children. If you're not a member, there is a building use fee.
 AUP (American University of Paris)  31 Avenue Bosquet 75007 Paris, Tel.33-(0)1 40 62 06 00 ; in the USA : tel. 212/983 14 14.  Very well located university, attracting students from all over the world

 And also :

  • Saint Joseph's Church, 50 avenue Hoche 75008 Paris Tel. 33-(0)142 27 28 56 (Roman Catholic Church) houses ACWO (the American Catholic Women's Organization of Paris)
  • An Anglophone synagogue
  • An The French-American Foundation (FAF), Comité Français 21 bld de Grenelle 75015 Paris (fafparis@aol.com, tel. 01 45 77 40 01) and in New York (Tel.212-288 4400, email french_amerfdn@msn.com) : many events, with prominent speakers, some interesting initiatives to make both business worlds understand each other better (and a guide book of useful addresses)
  • French American Center, Espace Pierre Cardin, 1 Avenue Gabriel, 75008 Paris
  • Association France-Amérique 9 Avenue Franklin Roosevelt 75008 tel 33-(0)1 43 59 51 00 is a club (with a restaurant), in a very beautiful mansion which hosts several other Franco-American organizations
  • The French-American Guide (see Bibliography) provides a useful list of organizations in Paris.
  • More to come
  Read the page about religion in France
 DID YOU KNOW THAT.... The number of American residents in France is 165,000 (with an estimated 50,000 in Paris) and the number of US visitors is 3 million a year (Source : US Consulate 2003). See the figures about Americans abroad and click here for a list of famous Americans who lived in Paris.

Schools and universities

 Ecole Active Bilingue  117 Boulevard Malesherbes 75008 Paris Tel. 33-(0)1 45 63 62 22  
 Lycée International, American Section  BP 230 78104 Saint Germain en Laye Tel. 33-(0)1 34 51 74 85  The French high school system with, in addition to it, an excellent American section (among others). Located in a very nice small town, 20 minutes from Paris by metro.
 The American School

 41 rue Pasteur 92210 Saint-Cloud

Tel. 33-(0)1 47 20 22 51

 A friendly school offering a very American atmosphere
 The American University of Paris (AUP)

 6 rue du Colonel Combes 75007 Paris Tel : 33-(0)1 40 62 07 20

US Office : 950 South Cherry Str., Suite 210 Denver Colorado 80246

Tel : (303) 757 6333

 A unique university attended by students from all over the world. Very interesting Summer programs and programs for adults. All courses in English. AUP has a very ambitious program of expansion on a new site.
American Graduate School of International Relations and Diplomacy (AGSIRD)

Alliance Française Building - 101, boulevard Raspail, 75006 Paris

Telephone: 33 (0)1 47 20 00 94

AGSIRD offers US-accredited MAs, as well as PhD programs, in the field of International Relations and Diplomacy. It combines American teaching (dialogue, individual attention, out of the classroom observation) with the rich resources of Paris.

 And also :

  • Marymount School, 72 boulevard de la Saussaye 92200 Neuilly/Seine, 33-(0)1 46 24 10 51
  • Pre-school and primary : Ecole internationale Malherbe, 19, rue du 11 novembre, 78110 Le Vésinet tel 33-(0)1 39 76 47 37
  • A small bilingual international school near Paris (in the Yvelines)
  • The American Business School in Paris
  • More to come
  To know more about French universities, visit the site of the Sorbonne (in English)   Read the page about French education

Bookstores

 W.H.Smith

 248 rue de Rivoli 75001 Paris

Tel. 33-(0)1 44 77 88 99

Books and newspapers in English, friendly, helpful bilingual staff
 Shakespeare & Company

37 rue de la Bûcherie 75005 Paris

Tel. 33-(0)1 43 26 96 50
 A funky, cozy bookstore which has been around, it would seem, forever, in the shadow of the great Notre Dame cathedral. With the spirits of Sylvia Beach, Hemingway, James Joyce, Fitzgerald, Ezra Pound and many others. Read Sylvia Beach's memoirs.
 Brentano's

37 avenue de l'Opéra

75002 Paris

Tel 33-(0)1 42 61 52 50

On the avenue de l'Opéra, one of our favorites. Books in both English and French. Good sales.
 Tea & Tattered Pages

 24, rue Mayet, 75006 Paris

Tel. 33-(0)1 40 65 94 35

T&T also has a friendly tea room
 San Francisco Book Co

 17 Rue Monsieur le Prince 75006

Paris Tel.33-(0)1 43 29 15 70

 A very good American & English second-hand bookstore

 And also :

  • The Red Wheelbarrow Bookstore : 13 rue Charles V, 75004 Paris 33-(0)1 42 77 42 17
  • Galigliani's, 224 rue de Rivoli 75001 Tel 33-(0)1 42 60 76 07
  • Reelbooks 14 rue de la Corne 77300 Fontainebleau Tel. 33-(0)1 64 22 85 85 (English bookstore and video club near the wonderful castle)
  • Abbey Bookstore, 29 rue de la Parcheminerie 75005 Paris Tel. 33-(0)1 46 33 16 24 (Canadian bookstore)
  • The Village Voice, 6, rue Princesse, 75006 Paris, 33-(0)1 46 33 36 47
  • More to come...
   Read our page bibliography and see American writers in Paris

DID YOU KNOW THAT....? More than 40,000 copies of French Toast, published by St Martin's Press, have been sold to date! You can find it in all major Paris bookstores ! Read also French Fried, about the French and their food and French Toast adapteld in French.  

Shopping...

 Galeries Lafayette

 40 boulevard Hausmann 75009 Paris

Tel.33-(0)1 42 82 34 56
  THE Paris Department store ! Packs and sends your purchases for a reasonable charge !
 Au Bon Marché  22 rue de Sèvres, 75007 Paris This left bank department store was the first in Paris. It has been entirely remodeled and is "très chic". Don't miss the "épicerie" for a palpitating visit through the world of French food and food from many other countries.
 Au Printemps  64, Blvd. Haussmann, 75009 Paris Right next to the Galeries Lafayette, the Printemps has undergone extensive remodeling. Brand name fashion.

 Read :

  • "The Riches of Paris" and "The Riches of France" by Maribeth Clemente, St. Martin's Press, New York, 1991, are ideal for intelligent shopping !
  • Suzy GERSHMAN, Born to Shop- Paris, Frommer's, IDG Books, Foster City CA, 2000
  • Rachel KAPLAN, The Insider's Guide to French Chic
  • More to come.....
   Click here for specific shopping areas (antiques, gifts, music, etc...)

Other English-speaking services...

 American Express

 26 avenue de l'Opéra 75001 Paris

33-(0)1 53 29 40 39
 For your mail and money needs
 SPRINT  Michelle Smires A non-profit organization for children with special needs
 Thanksgiving  14 rue Charles V and 20 rue Saint Paul American groceries and your Thanksgiving turkey with all the trimmings!
 Nestor  call 0 801 630 600 Dry cleaning and home pick up
 Western Union   4 rue du Cloitre Notre Dame 75004 Tel. (0)1 43 54 46 12 Immediate money transfer
 Poste Centrale  52 rue du Louvre 75001 Central Post Office Open 24 h/day, 7 days/week
 Jill Bourdais

 Tel. 33-1 43 54 79 25

JABourdais@aol.com

A highly-respected psychotherapist practicing in Paris both privately and in a hospital setting
 Francis Pudlowski

 33-1 45 00 85 55

50 rue Copernic 75116

French lawyer experienced in US tax/legal issues
 Simply Speaking  simplyspeaking.hwp@gmail.com A group of Paris-based English speaking Clinical Psychologists and Psychotherapists

 And also ...

  • Minding Manners : life skills course for English speaking children, teens and young adults
  • The Irish Eyes is a free Irish magazine published in Paris, with interesting information and comments about life in Paris (you can find it in the same places you find FUSAC and FreeVoice)
  • Home -sick ? Click here for "just-like-home places" in Paris !
  • Jeff Steiner has a very informative site Americans-in-France
  • English or American-owned restaurants and bars in Paris include : le Juvenile's, 47 Rue Richelieu 75001 tel 01 42 97 46 49 (Tim Johnston, Scottish), Maceo 15 rue des Petits Champs 75001 tel 01 42 97 53 85 & Willi's 13 rue des Petits Champs 75001 tel 01 42 61 05 09 (Tim Williamson, English), Le Timbre 3 rue Sainte-Beuve 75006 tel 01 45 49 10 40 (Chris Wright, English)
  • And more to come...
See links to American-run businesses in Paris
 USEFUL TIPS... More and more French people speak English but do not think that it is normal for them to be addressed in English, which is not their language ! They will appreciate your efforts to say a few words in French before you switch to English. Learn how to say : "Sorry : I do not speak French" which is "Excusez-moi: Je ne parle pas Français". Paradoxically, though, you may try out your French only to be answered in English! Don't give up!

Where do Americans live in the Paris region ?

The membership directory of two associations of US residents in France (AAWE, AARO) gives the following results :

  • Western Paris (upscale 16th, 7th, 17th and 8th "Arrondissements") : 29,4 %
  • Central Paris (historical 5th, 6th, 1rst, 2nd, 3rd and 4rth Arrts) : 12,1 %
  • Southern Paris (traditional 13th, 14th and 15th Arrts) : 9,5 %
  • Eastern and Northern Paris (9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 18, 19 and 20 th Arrts) : 8,8 %
  • Close Western suburbs (Hauts de Seine 92-Département, with Neuilly, Asnières, Suresnes, etc...) : 16,9 %
  • More distant Western suburbs (Yvelines 78-département with Versailles, Saint-Germain, le Vésinet, Saint-Cloud, etc...) : 14,7 %
  • Other suburbs : 8,5 %

To know what they like the most in Paris, click here.

See a list of illustrious Americans who lived in Paris.

DID YOU KNOW THAT.... In France, the words " city center " (centre ville) and " suburbs " (banlieue) do not connote the same things as in the USA : " city center " connotes comfortable traditional apartments for the middle to upper-middle class whereas " suburbs " often connotes ugly social housing with immigration and crime problems ; the reason for this is that in the 1970s low-income housing constructed around big cities was not accompanied by shopping centers, youth centers, etc... and many young people found themselves with nowhere to meet and nothing to do. Some have risen above the problems inherent in these neglected suburbs, others not. Of course there are centrally located mediocre areas and affluent pretty suburbs (especially in the West of Paris) but as a general rule the image of "suburbs" is not the same in the US and in France. When people refer to "jeunes de banlieue" (literally : kids from the suburbs) , they mean "a gang of hooligans". This is a very unfair stereotype, but it is a fact. Therefore, a headline such as "Suburbian Riots" in the US press in Nov.2005 may be very misleading for the readers : they were riots in the poorest areas. In Paris, many expats live in Western suburbs and most long-time residents live in the center.

ToAmerican-run businesses in Paris

To favorite links

To American writers

To table of contents

Back to home page

Harriet Welty Rochefort writes articles and books about France and the French. Order her books :

  • "French Toast, An American in Paris Celebrates The Maddening Mysteries of the French", St.Martin's Press, New York, 1999
  • "French Fried, The Culinary Capers of An American in Paris", St.Martin's Press, New York, 2001

More on Harriet's books (excerpts, upcoming events, testimonials, etc..)

Together or separately, Harriet and Philippe speak about Intercultural Differences : click here for information.

 site still under construction
To email us

 If you like this site, please bookmark it or create a link!

To top of the page