French district (San Francisco)

See also: French District (homonymy)

The French District of San Francisco, in California - sometimes also called Little France (small France) - is a historical Enclave in the center town, consisted a whole of restaurants, coffees, hotels and institutions along Bush Street and in the adjacent alleys of Belden Place and Claude Lane, between Chinatown and the Financial District.

The French presence in San Francisco declined considerably starting from the beginning of the 20th century, and the district which remains is only one weak echo of a community which off counted the business successes and financial in particular illustrated by the Grand store City Paris, today disappeared and replaced by a Neimann-Marcus ensign on Union Public garden - the cupola of the store remains visible interior of the building.

During the 20th century, the Chinese district of San Francisco gradually nibbled the French district in the south, and North Beach in north.

The French District includes/understands in particular the church of Our-Lady-of-Victories, founded in 1856, rebuilt in the style Notre Dame de Fourvière in 1908 after the earthquake of 1906, and where the mass always is celebrated in French Sunday. The Consulat of France, which covers the area of the American North-West, is located just at side on Bush Street. The Coffee of the Press is held vis-a-vis the entry of Chinatown de Grant Avenue, not far from the bar the Exchange and of the restaurant At Claude on Claude Lane. A celebration of the July 14th is held each year on Belden Place, an alley close to the crossroads of Bush Street and Kearny Street where several French restaurants are, in particular Plouf and Coffee Bastille.

External bond

Historical of the French presence in San Francisco, by Anne Foucrier.

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