{"id":15069,"date":"2014-12-08T08:02:47","date_gmt":"2014-12-08T12:02:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/?p=15069"},"modified":"2019-05-15T10:39:36","modified_gmt":"2019-05-15T14:39:36","slug":"4-things-did-not-know-about-paris-stairs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/2014\/12\/08\/4-things-did-not-know-about-paris-stairs\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Things You Didn’t Know About Paris\u2019s Stairs"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n\t\"Stairs\n\t
Stairs separate the busy city from the quiet Seine River.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cWhy isn\u2019t there an elevator in my apartment building? I have to walk up multiple flights of stairs!\u201d This is the cry of the beleaguered traveler who is dismayed to find that they will have to carry heavy bags up several stairs before taking a well-deserved nap after a long flight. We hear you, and you\u2019re not alone in your woe! In this article, we hope to help you understand why your building was designed without a roomy elevator, and why this might actually be a good thing.<\/p>\n

But first, get ready for a bit of history.<\/p>\n

1. Upward mobility and the social standing of stairs<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\t\"Hassmann-style\n\t
Haussmann\u2019s grand style made its mark with the rebuilding of Paris<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Paris was a pretty dismal place in the mid-19th century. The medieval-era streets twisted aimlessly through dark, leaning buildings, and roads were often barely wide enough for one cart to traverse. In 1853, Napoleon III appointed George Haussmann to open, unify, and embellish Paris. The sweeping style and delicate filigree that characterizes Paris architecture today is largely a result of Haussmann’s work. With a new architectural order came a new social order, and the new buildings’ staircases were largely at the center of it.<\/p>\n

\n\t\"Elegant\n\t
Walking up to a Paris apartment can be a beautiful experience<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

In the past, elevators were novelties that only prestigious hotels and city centers could afford to install. As a result, Haussmann designed most of his buildings without elevators, following a building plan that divided different floors by social class. The ground floor was designed for shopping and commerce, while the first floor (a.k.a. the second floor in the United States) housed the building\u2019s shopkeepers. The second floor (U.S. third floor), called the \u00e9tage noble<\/em>, was reserved for wealthier families. The design of upper-level floors depended on the architect of the building, but the top level was almost always a great place to watch the sun set over Paris<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Haussmannian apartments weren\u2019t the only places to utilize the symbolism of stairs. The Grand Staircase at the Op\u00e9ra de Paris was almost as much of a reason to attend the opera as the opera itself. The whole building was designed to facilitate one\u2019s ability to see and be seen, and walking along the lobby’s sweeping staircase was the equivalent of stepping into the limelight.<\/p>\n

2. Why aren\u2019t there any elevators now?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\t\"Paris\n\t
Because buildings weren\u2019t originally designed for elevators, space is split between elevators and stairs.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Many travelers to Paris are surprised to discover that there are very few elevators in the city, even in the 21st century. It\u2019s a subject most guidebooks forget to mention<\/a>. Those who do discover a rare elevator are sometimes vexed to find that it is much smaller than an American elevator. The reason for this is that most Parisian elevators were installed decades after the building was built, and many of them have to share the space with the preexisting stairs. It’s often therefore nicer to live in a building that maintains its original large staircases than it is to live in a building that has unsuccessfully tried to make room for both.<\/p>\n

Besides, most guests who opt to stay in an authentic Paris apartment are trying to experience Paris as Parisians do. To put it bluntly, Parisians expect stairs, whether it’s out of habit or to keep in shape. If you really want to experience Paris properly, you must expect to climb a lot of stairs, even in the Paris Metro, which is as famous for its stairs as for its art<\/a>. On the positive side, most Paris stairs were designed to be shallow and easy to climb so corseted ladies didn\u2019t faint, or worse; reveal an ankle.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re curious about whether or not the apartment you\u2019ve booked has an elevator, check the description on New York Habitat’s website. Often there are also pictures of the entrance hall and staircase\/elevator. Our agents are also happy to tell you whether or not your apartment has an elevator. And don\u2019t forget; floor numbers are different in the U.S. than in Paris! A second-floor apartment in Paris will be accessible via two flights of stairs.<\/p>\n

When in doubt, ask your agent. We do our best to help you avoid any surprises!<\/p>\n

\n\t\"Stairs\n\t
19th-century stairs are well-loved by both time and travelers<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

3. The art and personality of Paris stairs<\/strong><\/p>\n

Several centuries on from the practical motivations of George Haussmann\u2019s stairs, Parisians\u00a0have turned their staircases into an art form. Here are just a few ways Parisians have reinvented stairs:<\/p>\n