Planning a trip to london and paris late sept 2014. Want to rent an apartment in #11 arr (bastille area), any pros and cons to staying here? Bars, restaurants, cafes, bakeries, walking neighborhoods or easy to get to tourist attractions? How easy to ride metro subway and getting around?
Thanks
Posted by
Green Bay
21142 posts
11th is riddled with Metro lines. The roughly trapezoidal shaped arrondisement has major Metro hubs at Republic Square on the Northwest corner, Place de Bastille on the Southwest corner, and Nation square on the Southeast corner. Several lines traverse the district or define its boundaries.
The area around canal St Martin has lots of New Age cafes (for the lack of a better term). The North end gets into an area with lots of Asian restaurants. All in all, a pretty nice neighborhood with a definitely younger crowd. There is a large street market on the North end of Place de Bastille. I forget which day it is open.
Posted by
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
8293 posts
The market is on ave Richard-Lenoir and is on Sunday mornings. From Pl. de la Bastille you can easily walk to Places des Voges and the Marais, and the Opera house is right there as well. Behind the Opera is the Promenade Plantee, great for strolling. Bus No. 69 will take you to Pere La Chaise cemetery going in one direction, and Champs de Mars & the Eiffel Tower going in the other direction.
Posted by
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
4087 posts
Richard-Lenoir market also opens Thursday a.m. For a daily market, walk 15 minutes east to Place d'Aligre where an open and roofed market operates every morning except Monday. The quality of its green groceries is less reliable but the deli and other artisinal products can be appetizing. The nearby Baron Rouge, 1 rue Théophile Roussel, is justly renowned as an authentic neighbourhood wine bar.