With a rich history, thriving cultural scene, and lush green spaces, Boulogne-Billancourt has become an increasingly attractive option for people looking to enjoy the best of both city and suburban life.
Often referred to simply as “Boulogne”, it has the luxury of being a little removed from the busiest, most touristic parts of Paris, but also just a short metro ride from almost anywhere in the city.
Boulogne has wonderful parks, great museums and galleries, and a real café and restaurant culture. You’ll also find great schools, a hospital, and plenty more advantages for families. And perhaps most importantly, larger apartments and even standalone houses.
Here are the top seven reasons why this vibrant community is more than just a suburb—it may be the perfect Paris neighborhood to make your home.
| Summary. |
Boulogne-Billancourt is located just outside the south western edges of the city proper, in the Hauts-de-Seine department.
Curiously, it’s the name of both a specific commune and the departmental arrondissement in which the commune sits. The arrondissement actually includes seven other communes, such as Vanves, Issy-les-Moulineaux, Meudon, and Sèvres. But most Parisians mean the commune when they talk about Boulogne-Billancourt, and in this article so do we.
Like the other Hauts-de-Seine towns, it’s one of the wealthiest regions in all of France. You can expect a more peaceful, client, and quiet life here than in central Paris, especially on weekends and holidays.
Boulogne is arguably more lively and business-centric than other nearby suburbs. It has a long history of industry—the world’s first commercial aircraft factory, Voisin, was built here in 1905. It’s also considered the birthplace of France’s automobile industry, and was the site of major film studios for decades.
While far less busy than central Paris or the La Défense business district, plenty of workers still come to Boulogne during the week. As a result, there’s plenty of the infrastructure you’d expect, including schools, good public transport, a hospital, and restaurants and bars.
Boulogne-Billancourt therefore combines many of the advantages of living in a big city with the comfort and relative peace of the suburbs. If that sounds appealing, let’s look now at some of the specific reasons why people choose to live in Boulogne.
The best Paris neighborhood for you will ultimately depend on your family, your work situation, and what you prioritize most about city life. But here are seven of the best reasons to call Boulogne-Billancourt home.
Boulogne is by no means a cheap neighborhood. In fact, it’s one of the more expensive Paris suburbs to rent or buy property.
But for certain professional people—and especially families—it offers the right balance of larger, more modern living spaces at slightly better prices than you’ll find in the city.
You’re still likely to live in an apartment, although standalone houses can be found. But that apartment will likely have more rooms and have been renovated more recently. Working couples with good incomes, who might otherwise have had to downsize to live in the city, can expect more comfort for the same price in Boulogne.
Start exploring furnished apartments to rent in Hauts-de-Seine.
Central Paris doesn’t have an abundance of wide open green spaces and huge public parks. But the Bois de Boulogne is an exception. One of the two wooded parks on the edge of Paris (along with Bois de Vincennes).
And as the name suggests, the Bois de Boulogne is right next to Boulogne-Billancourt. Residents have extraordinary running, walking, and cycling tracks within easy access, and the park is also perfect for picnics and naps in the sunshine.
Even better, many of the park’s roads close to cars over the weekend. So you have even more family-friendly biking and running to enjoy.
The opportunities in the Bois de Boulogne don’t end with walks in the park. There’s also a horse riding club (with chic Paris prices, of course), boats for rent on the park’s lake, and a campground should you wish to spend a few nights outside.
Nearby on the Seine itself, there’s also a rowing club and even scuba diving and snorkeling. This access to activities and adventure is almost unparalleled in a major metropolitan city like Paris.
There are also lots of new, young families and generational residents in Boulogne. This gives the neighborhood a distinct family feeling which is hard to find elsewhere in the city.
The Bois de Boulogne just keeps on delivering, including major annual and one-off events and festivals. Roland Garros (home of the French Open) is at the end of the park, right next to Boulogne-Billancourt. While other attendees deal with public transport or pricey taxis, you can simply walk in.
The Bois also hosts major music festivals and cultural performances every year, including Lollapalooza, horse races in the Longchamp velodrome, and regularly welcomes Cirque du Soleil. And Parc des Princes—home to Paris Saint-Germain football club—is on the border between Boulogne and the 16th arrondissement.
Even though you’re technically outside Paris, you have just as many opportunities to be part of interesting, exciting events.
While most people think of the Musée d’Orsay and the Louvre as the key Paris museums, there are some incredible art and cultural sites in and around Boulogne. Most famous is probably the Louis Vuitton Foundation, at the other end of the Bois de Boulogne. It’s technically closer to Neuilly-sur-Seine, but still very close in the grand scheme. Both the building itself and its revolving collections are a feast for the eyes.
Actually in Boulogne itself is the wonderful Musée Albert Kahn, which has nearly four hectares of manicured gardens including traditional Japanese, English, and French landscaping, and more wild forest.
These are all well worth a trip to the suburbs for those living in Paris. As a resident of Boulogne, they’re conveniently located on your doorstep.
Boulogne-Billancourt is one of the better-connected suburbs in western Paris, with options no matter where you live or are trying to get to. Line 10 runs across the south of the city, getting you close to the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, and Gare d’Austerlitz. Line 9 covers the north of the city, with stops at or near Trocadéro, St Lazare, République, and Nation.
One key concern with moving out to the suburbs is feeling remote and disconnected from the rest of the city. The metro will get you almost anywhere from Boulogne in a relatively short timespan.
Boulogne remains a major business center, and work may be a key reason to choose to live here. Boulogne-Billancourt houses the headquarters of Boursorama, Carrefour, Renault, Yoplait, and several other major French companies.
It also has a key campus of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation & Development (OECD), and is conveniently located for UNESCO and many embassies. All of these are common work sites for international expats.
Finally, Boulogne may be a good landing spot if you’re going to work in La Défense, the largest purpose-built business district in Europe. Both are on the western outskirts of Paris, so you’re certainly better placed here than an eastern suburb.
For some, Boulogne-Billancourt is the absolute perfect blend of big city life and suburban bliss. It may be right on the edge of Paris, but has a charm, personality, and lifestyle all its own.
From trendy cafes and beautiful parks, to renowned museums and sports arenas, it offers a way of life virtually impossible to find in Paris’ arrondissements. Boulogne is quickly becoming a favorite for both homegrown Parisians and expats.
Start planning your potential move by exploring furnished apartments to rent in Boulogne-Billancourt.