around Place de la Bastil le 1Coulée Verte René Dumont and Viaduc des Arts The Avenue Daumesnil offers plenty of surprises. Above its arches, along a former railway track, you can now stroll along a planted walkway that is a popular spot with joggers. Under the vaults stretches the Via- duc des Arts. Here, you can visit the studios of any one of the craft workers and design- Place ers, open to the public. Several restaurantswith terraces. de la Bastille www.leviaducdesarts.com1-129 av. Daumesnil (12th).M Bastille.o At the centre of this square stands the July column, whose lower parts will be open to visitors in 2020. The monument commemo- rates the revolution of 1830, but the square is well-known for another revolution, that of 1789. At this time, it was occupied by the Bastille prison, a symbol of the abso- lute power of the Ancien Régime. Nothing 2Cinémathèque Française remains of this prison destroyed shortly In a building designed by American archi- after the French Revolution. Today, the tect Frank O. Gehry, discover a museum square is a stage for major popular events — devoted to the history of cinema, with tem- concerts, fairs, public marches and demon- porary exhibitions, auditoriums and a gift strations — and a meeting-up point for night and bookshop. On your way out, enjoy a stroll owls who frequent the surrounding bars and in the Parc de Bercy where you will be sur- restaurants, in particular those in Rue de prised by its vines, romantic gade, aison - la Roquette. The square is also the start- du Lac and Maison du Jardinage. ing point for a stroll through the Faubourg 51 rue de Bercy (12th). M Bercy.o Saint-Antoine, exploring picturesque spots 01 71 19 33 33. Daily: 12 noon-7pm, except such as the Passage du Chantier, the Cour Tues, 1 Jan, 1 May, Aug and 25 Dec. Permanent de l’Étoile d’Or or the Cour des Trois Frères. collections/full rate: €5. Temporary exhibitions: The Opéra Bastille remains the district’s rates vary. www.cinematheque.fr landmark monument. Designed by architect Carlos Ott, this marvellous work of modern 3Bibliothèque Nationale de France – tr- architecture with transparent facades was Site François Mitterrand inaugurated the day of the bicentenary of Architect Dominique Perrault combined the French Revolution. During the day, it is wood, glass and steel in his design of the possible to visit the public foyers, the audi- ‘BNF’.At each of the four corners of the torium with its exceptional acoustics and huge esplanade stands a tower in the shape backstage areas. of an open book. This grandiose ensemble • OPÉRA BASTILLE – OPÉRA NATIONAL DE PARIS: is balanced and ethereal. The central plat- Place de la Bastille (12th). M Bastille.o form has a ‘sunken’ garden in a forest-like 0 892 89 90 90 (€0.35/min). setting, which the reading rooms look out Guided tours only, from Sept to mid-July. onto. Inside, visitors can see two spectacu- Closed 1 Jan and 1 May. Full rate: €17. lar globes (celestial and terrestrial) of Louis www.operadeparis.fr/visites XIV and take advantage of major temporary exhibitions. SOUTH-EAST PARIS 63 l .