Next     The 13th arrondissement

The best way to discover the 13th arrondissement is to wander through it, take your time to venture from one district to another, from world to world. The open books at the BnF, Bibliothèque F. Mitterrand metro stop, offer a new place to enjoy a stroll. Discover the warm ping of nostalgia in the La Butte-aux-Cailles district, “A miniature Paris in the shade of Chinatown’s high-rise buildings”!

Modernity and ancient heritage

What do “Paris Rive Gauche”, the largest development project in the French capital since that of Haussmann, and this village of peaceful, cobblestone alleyways, have in common? A shared cultural richness, a “taste of the 13th” where opposites attract and modernity meets ancient heritage in magnificent harmony.
In an instant, the moment it takes you to hop on one of the Vélib rental bikes available here, you can move through time, from one era to another. At the Place d’Italie, the grand metallic arch by the architect Kenzo Tange celebrates the audiovisual adventure, while just a few streets further on, the Manufacture des Gobelins introduces visitors to the art of high- and low-warp tapestry. And the voyage of discovery has only just begun…