Before becoming the sprawling global metropolis divided into 20 boroughs, Paris was a much smaller city, enclosed within its ancient walls. Overnight, its size doubled, forcing a complete overhaul of its administrative framework. It was no longer just about managing the historic core, but about establishing a system capable of accommodating these new, growing populations.
Out of the desire to unify the old town with its newer suburbs, the world’s most famous street numbering system was born: the Avenues. This spiral layout isn’t just an aesthetic choice; it symbolizes a city that has chosen to expand by winding around its heart, the Louvre, ensuring its unity is never lost.
Until the mid-19th century, Paris was divided into just 12 districts, simply numbered from left to right. However, in 1860, under the leadership of Napoleon III and the Baron Haussmann, the city expanded to include neighboring communes such as Montmartre, Belleville, and Vaugirard to accommodate the growing city. This prompted the creation of 20 new districts.
To organize them, a spiral shape was designed, starting from the heart of the city in the 1st arrondissement near the Louvre, and winding clockwise to reach the far eastern edge, in the 20th arrondissement around Ménilmontant.
Why not maintain a simple left-to-right numbering system? Historical accounts reveal that the residents of Passy (in today’s 16th arrondissement) refused to be incorporated into the 13th arrondissement. Back then, a popular saying went, "getting married at the 13th arrondissement town hall", which was a colloquial way of referring to cohabiting without official marriage (since the 13th arrondissement didn’t exist yet).
To avoid offending the wealthy residents of western Paris, authorities opted for a spiral numbering system, which resulted in the number 13 being placed in the more working-class neighborhoods of the Southeast!
The snail is the compass of Parisians. The smaller the number (1, 2, 3...), the deeper you are into the city's historic and bustling heart. As the numbers grow larger, you edge closer to the ring road and the old villages that once encircled the capital.
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