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12th Arr
Paris - 12th arrondissement
Now if you're thinking to yourself, "Wow, I'd love to go to the Louvre or the Eiffel Tower, but I just don't have the time. Wonder if there's anything else I can squeeze in," then a trip into the 12th arrondissement on the swanky ultra-futuristic metro line 14 from Madeleine to Halles de Bercy (otherwise known as Bercy Village -- hectares of refurbished white wine warehouses) is perfect. The shops and restaus at Bercy tend to be French chains, but there are tons of them, and all have outside seating -- but still, you go for whatever outside art exhibit they might have... and if there isn't one, or it disappoints, at least you went on the very cool, Météor (metro sans driver), where you were able to rest your weary Museum'd out legs. The wildly angled, architecturally designed Frank Gehry Cinémathèque Française (formerly the American Center -- meant to promote arts and good spirits between the French and Americans, but it went over budget) does have excellent exhibits if you find your 2nd wind when you arrive. The permanent and temporary exhibits range from themes such as costumes to ¡Almodóvar to Georges Méliès, magicien du cinéma and more. If you're up for a good pop concert, plan ahead to see the likes of Céline Dion, Radiohead, James Blunt, Kylie Minogue, etc., at the Palais Omnisports de Paris Bercy... or heck, go to see the New Jersey Nets take on the Miami Heat in Basketball.
Destinations in the 12th Arr
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Bercy Village
Shopaholics will be delighted with Bercy Village. It is a perfect blend of French country with lively city life. Originally the structures were used to house wine and the village was one of the biggest, brightest wine markets in the world. Today, they are used as cozy shops and quiet cafes which make up some of Paris’ best market shopping. -
Bois de Vincennes
This park is, without a doubt, one of the most comprehensive in France. There are distinct park settings like the Floral park, zoo and Ecole du Brueil which are all sprinkled with touristy attractions and interesting places like the castle, dog school, Fort Vincennes, Buddhist Institute, and several lakes. As if that isn’t enough to do, there are also recreational areas like the tennis courts, stadium, and running trails. -
Jardin Yitzhak Rabin
At the heart of Park Bercy is a sublime place called Jardin Yitzhak Rabin. The garden’s namesake dedicated his life to making peace which is why the garden is serene to the extreme. There are several bridges, waterworks and top notch landscaping making it one of the most tranquil places in Paris. -
Opera Bastille
The gorgeous façade is just the start. The Opera Bastille is one of the most esteemed performance venues on the planet. Throughout the year many of the world’s best operas, ballets, concerts, and plays travel hundreds of miles just to play here. It is filled with as much history as the Place de la Bastille, where it resides. -
Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy
This indoor sports arena seats 17,000 people and countless events like basketball, boxing, gymnastics, track, and equestrian. There is certainly something exciting for every taste here! -
Palais de la Porte Doree
(National Museum of Immigration)
This unique Art Deco building has even more in store on the inside. It is filled with incredible relics, artifacts and objects from many of France’s overseas territories as well as the cultures of those who have immigrated here over time. -
Parc de Bercy
This park is large, though its neighbor Bois de Vincennes, dwarfs it a bit! It is the perfect hangout spot to tailgate or to just enjoy the weather while waiting to go into the Palais Omnisports for a concert or event. Interestingly, it was built over the ancient Bercy wineries and had three separate inaugurations as it expanded over the years. -
Promenade Plantee
Located on a 4 mile strip of abandoned rail track that sits up off of the ground, this lush park offers beautiful views and a great way to take a sunny, afternoon stroll from Place de Bastille to Bois de Vincennes. -
Rue Charenton
Possibly due to the highly residential nature of the area, rue Charenton hosts dozens of electronics and computer shops –the most concentrated areas for these items in Paris. A computer nerd’s dream, stores like Cyclades Electronique have anything a consumer could ever want or need. -
Viaduc des arts
Children, roller skaters, mothers, students, and even business men enjoy a walk along the Viaduc des Art, an old railway line that is now a charming strip mall called the Promenade Plantee.
