Les Halles Paris

Les Halles is located in an area of Paris, France right at the center of the 1er arrondissement. It is so named for its large central wholesale marketplace that was destroyed in 1971 and replaced with an underground modern shopping area known as the "Forum des Halles". Les Halles is especially known for its open-air center that is just below street level. It contains various magnificent sculptures, fountains and mosaics for the tourists and shoppers to admire. Beneath this lies an underground station Châtelet-Les-Halles, which is the central hub of Paris's express urban rail system, the RER. A long-standing problem in the Halles area has been drug trafficking. Drug addicts and dealers have been known to meet in the neighborhoods adjacent to the market and so it is said that it is not safe to go there after dark. As of 2005, however, this problem seems to have mostly been resolved. At least during daytime hours, the open-air center with its wonderful artistic representations can be enjoyed by anyone who wishes to visit there. The underground station is also a great place to travel to and from any other area in Paris and is a great place to begin your travel for the day. Don't miss Les Halles on your visit to Paris this year.