Hi everyone, welcome to your weekly Rendez-Vous. Today we bring you to discover the 14th!
The 14th was a working-class district with a lot of history. It’s a lively neighborhood filled with simple restaurants, crêperies, and historic bistros. Today, the 14th arrondissement’s history meets modernism to become an alternative and ecological arrondissement with solidarity projects and a new way of consumption.
If you ever feel lost, don’t worry, you'll find bellow a link to the itinerary's map!
The flea market of Vanves
Let’s start with the flea market of Vanves, 34 Avenue Marc Sangnier. Rich in history, it has existed since the 20th century. Open on Saturdays and Sunday mornings only, you will discover more than 300 merchants that propose antique furniture, paintings, tableware, collector’s books, decorative objects, and vinyl. If you take the time, we are sure you will find a rare gem to add to your collection. If you don’t have a collection of trinkets don’t worry it’s never too late to start one! Oh and by the way, be ready to bargain. It is as much a game as a tradition, it would be a shame not to try!
Continue to head up on the street until you reach 104 Rue Didot.
Gourmet break
All the walk and bargain probably whet your appetite. Let’s take a break at La Panaméenne. It’s a restaurant and a non-profit organization that offers delicious home-cooked dishes with seasonal products from short circuits and mainly local. They propose many vegetarian dishes so everybody can find something to eat. La Panaméene is born from a solidarity initiative and promotes the right to the economic initiative of people in situations of exclusion and to develop accessible and sustainable food models. Let yourself be tented and make a good and eco-friendly deed. Your taste buds will thank you!
A little bit of green
Paris has many streets obviously, but some deserve to be seen and that's why we’re here!
First, continue up until you reach the crossroads rue Jaquier, then rue des Plantes and head north. You should make a pause when you cross L’impasse du moulin vert. It’s a pretty little impasse where cobblestones are polished by the year and wisteria decorate the buildings. For a second, you’re not in Paris anymore but in the south of France.
It’s not over yet, there are still many marvelous places to go! Take the street of the moulin vert and continue to the street of THERMOPYLES. It’s one of the quietest and beautiful pedestrian streets in Paris. You’ll see Ancient worker houses with vivid colors and plants everywhere. It’s absolutely splendid, you must see that.
Social Castle
Our next stop will be at Le chateau ouvrier. Yes, the French people are known for the revolution against the king, but we still love our castles. This castle is a bit outstanding. It dates from 1891 and was created to allow workers with few revenues to have a beautiful flat and a decent way of living. Today it hosts many non-profit organizations that work to enhance the neighbourhood and help the different communities living here. If you’re interested in history or architecture, you will love it.
A little detour?
There is only one place left to visit to end our stroll, but if you’re up to the walk we could make a detour to visit the church Notre Dame du travail. This church has a pretty unique architecture, and you probably won’t find anything alike elsewhere. It was made with the recycling parts of the Palais de l’industrie by the working class. They wanted a church that looks like them, a place to feel at home. That’s why the church has some similarities with a warehouse or a factory. Such a cool design!
Place de Séoul
After you have left the church, you should really stop by the Place de Séoul, another marvel of modern architecture. If the sun is out, stand in the centre of this place and enjoy a dazzling display of natural light going in every direction. For this spectacle, we can thank the Spanish architect Ricard Bofill Leví who made this circular place a mix of roman columns and bay windows. Take a break, sit on a bench, and see how manmade and nature can work together to achieve something this beautiful.
Every good thing has an end
Our final stop will be street Daguerre, another pedestrian street that is the perfect representation of a Parisian’s “street market”. Walk free between food shops, bookshops, retail stores, or you take a break on the terrace of a café. This is the street where you will experience the true Parisian lifestyle.
We hope that you enjoyed our stride across the 14th arrondissement of Paris, and we will meet again next week for another walk to discover the true Paris.
Take care and see you next time!