LE PARC BERCY Y PALAIS OMNISPORTS DE PARIS-BERCY
Palais Omnisports de Paris Bercy |
Until its decline in the 1960s, the area now covered by the Parc
de Bercy was the bustling centre for wine importation and storage
in Paris. Wine arrived by barge and by train; the rails of the latter
can still be seen in what are now the pathways of the park. The
long-abandoned warehouses have been replaced by a neat garden, with
wide lawns at one end and lines of plants, including a small vineyard,
in the centre. Landscaped hills, with fountains and ponds, manage
to make the bizarre architecture of the nearby Palais Omnisports
de Paris-Bercy (Paris-Bercy Multipurpose Sports Arena) a little
less of an eyesore. In order that the illustrious history of the
spot not be forgotten, there is a little exhibition telling the
story of wine in Paris. The Maison du Jardinage (Gardening Centre)
is in the Parc de Bercy. |
COUR ST-EMILION (BERCY VILLAGE)
The few old wine storehouses remained have been transformed into a mall with bars, shops, restaurants, etc. The typical architecture of the wine warehouse has been preserved. Bercy Village is a good tip for who wants to make shopping in an unusual ambient.
Le Bateaux Mouches |
GARE DE LYON
Built to replace the old landing stage of Lyon, the present building
was built between 1895-1902 by the architect Marius Toudoire. Recent
modernization work allows the TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse)
to serve this station. Departures for southern France, the Alps,
Switzerland, Italy and Greece are from here. |
CHINATOWN
Paris’ Chinatown is the area home to large Chinese, Vietnamese
and Cambodian communities and to a host of Asian restaurants shops
and markets . in this area you can find many beautiful shops selling
shoes and dresses ceramic Buddah statuettes, exotics fruits and
vegetables |
BOIS DE VINCENNES
The “Bois de Vincennes” offers 995 hectares of woods
and greens. The origins of this park come from the fact that it
was the reserved hunting place of King Philippe Auguste. In the
19th Century the Baron Haussmann gathered inspiration from the great
parks of London such as Hyde Park to construct what was going to
be the Bois de Vincennes.
Alphand was the project leader and created relieves and three
lakes with his team. Daumesnil lake was added later. This park
welcomed a racecourse (1863), the Imperial Farm (1859), and the
Horticultural school with its arboretum. Today the Bois de Vincennes
is fully equipped: the zoo, the flower park, the Buddhist temple
and George-Ville’s Farm, whose aim is to open children to
agricultural world. |
MUSEO DES ARTS D’AFRIQUE ET D’OCÉANIE
This museum is home to a collection of several millennia of African
and Pacific art, including an impressive display of African statues,
masks, jewellery, and wedding dresses from Maghreb. Built for the
1931 Colonial Exposition the building is still decorated with its
original murals and friezes. |
PLAZA DE LA NATION
This is the old Place du Trône, the name deriving from the
throne set there on 26th August 1660 for welcoming Louis XIV and
Marie Therèse upon their entry into the city. Called Place
du Trône-Renversé during the Revolution, when the guillotine
was erected there, it assumed its present name in 1880 on the occasion
of the first 14th July celebration. The fountain at the centre of
the square bears a group including the Triumph of the Republic,
work of Dalou (1899).
|
COULÉE VERTE (PROMENADE PLANTÉE)
This is the old Place du Trône, the name deriving from the
throne set there on 26th August 1660 for welcoming Louis XIV and
Marie Therèse upon their entry into the city. Called Place
du Trône-Renversé during the Revolution, when the guillotine
was erected there, it assumed its present name in 1880 on the occasion
of the first 14th July celebration. The fountain at the centre of
the square bears a group including the Triumph of the Republic,
work of Dalou (1899).
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