The 2nd arrondissement is one of the smallest neighbourhoods in Paris, but it’s far from lacking in spirit. Staying in a luxury vacation rental here means you can step outside to streets where art lives beyond the museums, spilling into shopfronts, galleries, and the sides of buildings. From grand architectural monuments to tucked-away murals, the 2nd feels like the neighbourhood where history and imagination meet. Whether you’re drawn to the classics or the unexpected, creativity is alive in every corner.
A Neighbourhood with an Artistic Soul
The 2nd arrondissement has long had a creative streak. Formerly the beating heart of Paris’ publishing world, this area teemed with printers, publishers and public intellectuals who created the terms of the cultural conversation. Strolling along, you’ll sense a quiet respect for knowledge and art woven into the architecture. Stories of innovation and expression line covered passages, ornate façades, and animated courtyards. This legacy makes the 2nd feel less like a business hub and more like a neighbourhood where artistry has always been part of daily life.
Le Grand Rex – Art Deco Cinema Icon
Adress:
1 Bd Poissonnière.
Hours:
Schedule subject to change: https://www.legrandrex.com/
One building sums up the artistic glamour of the 2nd: Le Grand Rex. Opened in 1932, this splendid cinema is one of the biggest and best known in Europe, with a frontage and interiors enriched with rich, glowing Art Deco fittings. You’ll step inside that building and be transported into a world of grandeur: a big auditorium, intricate detailing and an atmosphere that screams theatre palace more than it does cinema. Whether you’re attending the Paris International Fantastic Film Festival or just a blockbuster, the building is an attraction in itself. It’s the sort of venue where Parisian culture is rendered in neon lights.
Visitor Tips:
- Book in advance, especially for popular premieres & concerts
- Allow for extra time to fully experience all the cinema has to offer
- Take a guided tour with Rex Studios
- Keep an eye out for special events
Bibliothèque Nationale de France – Richelieu Site
Adress:
5 Rue Vivienne.
Hours:
Tuesday to Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 pm.
Housed in the 2nd, the Richelieu site of the Bibliothèque Nationale de France is more than a library; it’s also a cultural splendour. This historic institution, founded in the 17th century, has catered to generations of scholars, artists and dreamers. Inside, ornate reading rooms await, with high ceilings and vast shelves that make the act of turning a page a massive occasion in itself. Besides functioning as a research centre, the library presents rotating art exhibitions and cultural events that offer visitors new reasons to return. As you walk through its halls, you are connected to centuries of ideas and artistry, proof that libraries can be as inspiring as galleries when it comes to contemplating beauty.
Library Highlights:
- The library’s move here in 1721 marked it as the official Bibliothèque du Roi.
- Its architecture and interiors are protected as part of France’s cultural heritage
- Many of the library’s works are available digitally through BNF’s Gallica digital library
Hidden Galleries
The 2nd is rich in galleries that don’t appear on every tourist map, but are worth finding. On Rue de la Paix, Galerie Alexis Bordes specialises in 18th- and 19th-century French painting, a carefully curated retreat where every canvas speaks for itself. Not far away, Galerie Vivienne is another kind of experience. It’s the kind of spot where shopping, history and art coexist seamlessly, nestled in one of the prettiest covered passages in Paris. Near Rue de la Banque and the side streets, you will also find some independent spaces that put on exhibitions of contemporary and emerging artists. Most of these galleries change their shows fast, so every visit is a new discovery. It’s easy to get stuck in one of these smaller, more intimate spaces, as you’re never sure when you’ll turn a corner and be brought to a halt by another piece.
Street Art & Contemporary Installations
Art in the 2nd does not confine itself to indoor spaces. Go for a stroll along Rue Dussoubs or Rue des Petits Carreaux and you’ll spot the colourful murals that bring a touch of creativity to the district’s age-old walls. From the Mur végétal et street art at 40 Rue des Petits Carreaux, where greenery and painting are crossing paths, to the Mur des vents at 28 Rue Dussoubs, each work seems a dialogue between past and present. One that really captures your imagination is the Tintin Kissing mural at 43 Rue des Petits Carreaux, which is so much fun! Cumulatively, these installations remind you that Parisian art is alive, shifting and out in the open.
A Day of Art in the 2nd Arrondissement
A great single day in the 2nd might begin right outside your vacation rental or holiday apartment, with the grandeur of the architecture at Le Grand Rex before rambling to the Richelieu wing of the Bibliothèque Nationale. From there, wander into clandestine galleries on Rue de la Paix or Rue de la Banque, then finish your walk with a search for murals along Rue des Petits Carreaux. Along the way, pause at a café with art-filled interiors or a pastry shop with design flair; the arrondissement is as much about atmosphere as it is about art.
