Paris
The centre of France
The centre of France
These taken in 2016 reflect the lasting views of Paris.
We have been travelling to Paris since the 1980s. There is a permance about the city. Over the hundreds of years, things just last. Yes there are restorations and new constructions but for the greater part things just remain.
We fly into and will spend time in Paris before we travel to Lyon and the South of France.
The Porte Saint Martin, the Gate of Saint-Martin is one of the gates of the previous walls around Paris. It is located in the 10th arrondissement - the area in which we will be staying. It is an area I would say is more for residents than tourists but has a number of sights such as the Canal Saint-Martin, two major train stations (Gare du Nord, Gare de l'Est), the Marché Saint-Martin, the interior courtyard of the Hôpital Saint-Louis - it is served by six different metro lines so you may go under the area on your travels in Paris. Walk across the street from the Porte Sain- Martin and you are in the 2nd, and then after a few blocks the 1st. Great location.
Our apartment is on rue du Faubourg Saint-Martin, The street that connects the Saint-Martin gate to the Gare de l'Est in the 10th arronndissement. We stayed here in 2023 and look forward to returning. Although the apartment has a modern feel, the building used to be a printing workshop ) think part of the Imprimerie Chaix. This entire area used to be filled with workshops and clothing ateliers. The kitchen, living and dining area is covered with a glass ceiling that have curtains that can be pulled across the glass (electric of course). We love light that flows across the room. There are some old original iron pillars that remain. The apartment itself is well back from the street, in an interior courtyard.
We have been to Paris so many times, were we go will depend on the whims of the day. So we can visit Paris with a more relaxed approach than a first-time visitor who has the challenge of being on an agenda. But I do know we are certainly going to one particular restaurant - les philosophes in la Marais. A mandatory visit.