What to See and Do in the 19th Arrondissement of Paris?
The 19th arrondissement is located in Paris’ north-eastern corner, and covers over 2.5 square miles. It’s a little off the typical tourist trail, but is a popular place to live among young professionals who appreciate the multicultural atmosphere, lower rent and good public transport links. Government investment has lead to the creation of new arts centers, museums and parks, giving the 19th a new, cutting-edge nature. For an alternative Parisian experience, don’t miss out on what the 19th has to offer…
Parks
The 19th has two excellent, and very different, parks. The Buttes Chaumont (métro Botzaris or Buttes Chaumont) is a lovely place to go for a walk and visit the charming Temple de la Sibylle (also called the Belvedere), the grotto, waterfalls and suspended bridge. It is a popular place for families and students to picnic in the summer, and its steep slopes and winding paths offer great views over Paris.
The Parc de la Villette (métro Corentin Cariou or Porte de Pantin) is Paris’ third-largest park, and is unlike any other. It covers the site of Paris’ old slaughterhouses and was designed in a deconstructionist style by Tschumi, who consulted the philosopher Jacques Derrida before building. It’s fun, whimsical, unexpected and great for children.
Culture
The Parc de la Villette holds the largest concentration of cultural venues. The City of Science and Industry (Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie) also contains the Cité des Enfants – a great kids space with interactive exhibitions and two cinemas. The park is also host to the Paris Conservatory, founded in 1795, and brand new symphonic concert hall, the Philharmonie de Paris.
Away from the Parc de la Villette, the Cent Quatre Arts Center is a successful and popular venue with a large number of performance spaces for a variety of artistic and creative genres from around the world.
Food and Sport
If you’re a foodie, you’ll love a visit to one of the numerous fresh food markets. A list of every market in the 19th is available here. Our favorites are those on the Place de Joinville and Avenue Jean Jaures.
Burn off those croissant calories with a relaxing bike ride along the longest unbroken cycle lane in Île de France, 30 kilometers passing by the Bassin de la Villette in the 19th. Serious cyclists will love the smooth paths and varied scenery, and families can make the most of a picnic, legs dangling over the edge of the Canal de l’Ourcq, or further out in Paris’ leafy suburbs.
If bicycles are your thing, you absolutely have to try out a bike tour of Paris. You’ll cover so much more ground and won’t have sore feet at the end of the day. The night-time tour is particularly beautiful!
[maxbutton id=”1″ url=”https://www.fattiretours.com/paris/tours/paris-night-bike-tour” text=”Book a Paris Night Bike Tour!” ]
