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Rue Cler walk

Hello all, I'm looking for the best way to get from the Marais to the starting point for Rick's Rue Cler Walk. Having trouble finding the nearest metro or bus stop. I find Ecole Militaire is close by but it's at the end point of the walk rather than at the starting point. Any suggestions gratefully received!

Posted by
14799 posts

I stay in the Rue Cler area and while I really like it, to me it’s not much of a tour to walk down the street. If you’re staying in the area or walking over to see it after the Eiffel Tower that works OK.

However, does the walk start at the corner of Rue de Grenelle and Rue Cler? If so the closest metro is La Tour-Mauberg which is one stop before Ecole Militaire if you’re coming out on Line 8.

Posted by
3256 posts

The tour begins on Reu de Grenelle and ends on Avenue de la Motte Picquet (two blocks). You want to get off at Ecole Militaire line 8. Do not get off at La Tour-Maburg because it’s a longer walk from both cross streets.

Posted by
1068 posts

The street is not very long and you can walk from one end to the other in a matter of minutes. I do hope as someone else mentioned that you’re also going to see the Eiffel Tower, not that far away, and not making a special trip just to see a small lane of restaurants, gelato and food shops.

Posted by
14799 posts

Not trying to quibble but La Tour-Maubourg is slightly closer to Rue de Grenelle and Rue Cler intersection. Either is close- just .2 or .3 of a mile from either. As mentioned I stay in the area and walk from both. In the afternoon when I return “home”, lol I usually get off at La Tour-Maubourg to walk down Rue Cler and decide what I’m going to do for dinner and or dessert!

Posted by
2778 posts

Spend another hour or two in the Marais rather than Rue Cler!
If you're looking for a way to connect the Tower to a walk, try crossing over the river to President Wilson instead -- much better than Rue Cler.

Posted by
1234 posts

Agree with others that it is very short, and not much to see except for a bunch of tourists clutching Rick Steves' books. Certainly there are many other streets in Paris with at least as much appeal, and fewer tourists. But if you want to get there for something reason other than this, I also agree with Bus 69. It is one bus/metro ticket and also lets you see the actual city instead of tunneling underground in the urine-soaked metro.

Posted by
7311 posts

Walking through rue Cler is a 10-minute walk. There are no really interesting shops, just cafés, food-related stores, and a bank or two.
If your Marais accommodation is close to line 8 (Chemin Vert, Saint-Sébastien Froissart...) then, when you go to the Eiffel tower, you can get off at École Militaire and walk thru rue Cler on your way there (or the same in reverse).
But if getting to École Militaire is cumbersome for you, you can skip it. Rue de Bretagne, rue des Archives, rue Rambuteau or rue des Francs-Bourgeois, all in the Marais, are all more interesting than rue Cler.

Posted by
2791 posts

Oh yes, but it’s only tourists on Rue Cler They are the one who keep the butcher in business, they are the ones who keep the cheese shop in business, they are the ones who keep two florist, and three green grocers in business. If you believe this, I’ve got a bridge for sale. 😂

Posted by
14799 posts

Carol, you forgot the tourists who have apparently enrolled their kiddos in the schools that are on the north end of Rue Cler and walk them there eachschool morning. Plus the middle-school aged kids who swarm over the Amorino in late afternoon after school is dismissed to get some treats! They sound like they are native French speakers from the conversations I've not been able to understand a word of, lol.

Posted by
7311 posts

Carol, you forgot the tourists who have apparently enrolled their kiddos in the schools that are on the north end of Rue Cler and walk them there eachschool morning

I went to school there for a year 😅.
There's nothing "unauthentic" about rue Cler I'd say, but I do not find it particularly outstanding either. It is nice to pass by if it makes sense for you, basically.

Posted by
12 posts

Thanks everyone for your comments and suggestions. Will visit Rue Cler on our way to Tour Eiffel!

Posted by
14799 posts

"Will visit Rue Cler on our way to Tour Eiffel!"

I think this is a good plan.

Here are some links to other things in the neighborhood between Rue Cler and the Eiffel Tower.

This is a walking tour by Corey Frye, A French Frye in Paris that starts at the Art Nouveau buildings on Avenue Rapp near the Eiffel Tower and ends up walking down Rue Cler.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAY8vsAbpFs

More info on the Jules Lavirotte buildings which is where Corey starts:

http://parisadele.com/portfolio/lavirotte-building-and-square-rapp/?fbclid=IwAR0ewCFJJSQ-dsJpEx6Ax4gVPAx9adU-k00kFVJLAhHRTngXax8Tb3R7n6Q

And interesting story about a restaurant on Avenue de la Motte-Piquet (which is at the south end of Rue Cler) which was used by the Resistance in WWII:

https://www.sortiraparis.com/en/where-to-eat-in-paris/restaurant/articles/282172-chef-frederic-vardon-takes-over-cafe-max-high-place-of-the-french-resistance

I've never eaten here a it's a fairly "meaty" menu and I'm vegan but I'll go by and see what is on their board of specials next trip.

Balso! That is funny!

Posted by
3398 posts

I'll probably be shouted down for this, but Rue Cler isn't that great. It's small, it's not that representative of a real Paris neighborhood, and is a bit out of the way. There are lots of typical shops but it's been "curated" to meet the expectations of tourists. If you want to see a real Paris neighborhood try Rue de Charenton in the 12th or some of the other shopping areas not in one of the central arrondissements. If you really want to see it, then take the metro to La Tour Maubourg - it's right at the east end of Rue Cler.