After spending more than 22 years in the New World (i.e. North America), I got accustomed to articulating my orientation by using directions such as east, west, north, south, etc. I’ve forgotten how, in many parts of the Old World (i.e. Europe), people are more prone to using subjective means of orientation. Such as, left, right, and so on.
So in Paris, instead of specifying that we’re crossing over to the south bank of the river Seine, we say we’re going to the left bank (Rive Gauche). Why is the south bank named left bank? Beats me.
Anyway, I found the left bank to be incredibly charming, and kind of different than the right bank. Here is a snapshot of one of the anonymous charming streets comprising the intricate and elaborate network, or maze, sprawling close to the left bank of the Seine.
Magic triangle on the left bank
Open Letter From Paris 
Not entirely sure if you are being serious when you say that you do not know why the south bank is the ‘rive gauche’, but the explanation is simple. A river is always described in the direction it flows.
As you are clearly a Francphile, you may enjoy this recent blog.
Thanks for clarifying my confusion. After living in North America for such a long time, I completely forgot all these little details.
Sorry, finger trouble!
Francophile, of course, and: