around PLACE DE LA BASTILLE 1COULÉE VERTE RENÉ DUMONT AND VIADUC DES ARTS The Avenue Daumesnil offers plenty of sur- prises. Above its arches, along a former rail- way track, you can now stroll along a planted walkway that is a popular spot with joggers. Under the vaults stretches the Viaduc des PLACE Arts. Here, you can visit the studios of any one of the craft workers and designers, open to DE LA BASTILLE the public. Several restaurants with terraces. 1-129 av. Daumesnil (12th). M Bastille.o www.leviaducdesarts.com At the centre of this square stands the July column, whose lower parts will be open to visitors in 2021. 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- 2CINÉMATHÈQUE FRANÇAISE lute power of the Ancien Régime. Nothing In a building designed by American archi- remains of this prison destroyed shortly tect Frank O. Gehry, discover a museum after the French Revolution. Today, the devoted to the history of cinema, with square is a stage for major popular events — temporary exhibitions, auditoriums and a concerts, fairs, public marches and demon- gift and bookshop. On your way out, enjoy a strations — and a meeting-up point for night stroll in the Parc de Bercy where you will be owls who frequent the surrounding bars and surprised by its vines, romantic garden and restaurants, in particular those in Rue de la Maison du Lac. Roquette. The square, which has given itself 51 rue de Bercy (12th). M Bercy.o over primarily to pedestrians since 2019, 01 71 19 33 33. Temporary exhibition: daily, is also the starting point for a stroll on the except Tues, 1 Jan, 1 May, Aug and 25 Dec. Arsenal marina with its seaside atmosphere Opening times vary, contact the venue for or the Faubourg Saint-Antoine, exploring information. The museum is closed for picturesque spots such as the Passage du renovation work until Jan 2021. Chantier, the Cour de l’Étoile d’Or or the Temporary exhibitions: rates vary. Cour des Trois Frères. The Opéra Bastille www.cinematheque.fr remains the district’s landmark monument. Designed by architect Carlos Ott, this mar- 3BIBLIOTHÈQUE NATIONALE DE FRANCE – vellous work of modern architecture with SITE FRANÇOIS MITTERRAND transparent facades was inaugurated the Architect Dominique Perrault combined day of the bicentenary of the French Rev- wood, glass and steel in his design of the ‘BNF’. olution. During the day, it is possible to visit At each of the four corners of the huge espla- the public foyers, the auditorium with its nade stands a tower in the shape of an open exceptional acoustics and backstage areas. book. This grandiose ensemble is balanced • OPÉRA BASTILLE – OPÉRA NATIONAL DE PARIS: and ethereal. The central platform has a Place de la Bastille (12th). M Bastille.o ‘sunken’ garden in a forest-like setting, which 0 892 89 90 90 (€0.35/min). the reading rooms look out onto. Inside, visi- www.operadeparis.fr/visites/opera-bastille tors can see two spectacular globes (celestial and terrestrial) of Louis XIV and take advan- tage of major temporary exhibitions. 68| SOUTH-EAST PARIS