Stories
12th: Bastille
Paris - 12th arrondissement
A trip into this arrondissement on the swanky ultra-futuristic metro line 14 from Madeleine to Halles de Bercy (aka Bercy Village with its hectares of refurbished white wine warehouses) is another wonderful option for visitors to Paris. The shops and restaurants at Bercy tend to be French chains, but there are tons of them, and all have outside seating and you travel via the very cool, Météor (métro sans driver), where you were able to rest your weary legs.
The wildly angled, architecturally designed Frank Gehry Cinémathèque Française has excellent exhibits if you find your second wind when you arrive. Watch for the exposition on producer, director, artist Tim Burton in spring 2012.
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: Bastille
-
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. -
Marche d’Aligre
Though Paris is filled with many excellent open-air markets, for shoppers on a budget, this is by far one of the most affordable. It features typical market fare like furniture, antiques, and clothing as well as special craftsman shops and stalls that have been in the area for centuries. Due to the high number of North Africans who have immigrated to this area of Paris, it also an exotic African influence, especially in some of the nearby restaurants and cafes.
-
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.
This 2011 story, The Opera Bastille , is a full review with complete information for performances and building tours.
-
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. -
Parasolerie Hertault
Michel Heurtault's Parasolerie, an umbrella shop located in the Viaduc des Arts in the 12th arrondissement, (an arcade dedicated by the Mairie de Paris to l'artisinat francais–the finest of traditional arts and crafts), is the last of its kind in Europe. -
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.
