Robert, not so many people start in Paris so I don't think it is so easy to find a credential there. I was keen to find one in Paris myself earlier this year, as I was starting from Cluny and I suspected it might be a bit tricky finding one there. (There isn't a local association of St James here in New Zealand). A French Camino friend took me along to the office of a Paris pilgrim association, compostelle2000, and she 'negotiated' in French on my behalf. Usually this association only gives its credential to members who live in the local area. However, because of the particular circumstances in my case- no association at home, and I had come from so far away- they made an exception and I was given one for a donation.
As for the 'starting point'- it's probably a matter of choice. A lot of information about the exact routes through Paris has been lost over time. You can, however, see part of the route from Notre Dame quite clearly even on a modern map, where nearby streets have 'St Jacques' in their name, and you climb rue St Jacques that goes past the Sorbonne up to the church of Haut Pas where there is an old statue of St James. Alternatively, it is thought that medieval pilgrims gathered at the Basilique St Denis before walking down streets like rue St Martin, past the Tour St Jacques to Notre Dame.
Margaret (another one!)
