5.6.17

Window reflections…


I wanted to illustrate what, since the end of the last century, you can find under the vaults of what used to be a railway viaduct, the “Viaduc de Bastille”. The railway line, which closed in 1969, had its end station at the Bastille, where now the new opera house stands. The rail tracks on top of the vaults have been replaced by the “Coulée Verte” (Green Course). You can today make a 4.7 km (2.9 miles) walk all the way from the Bastille to the Bois de Vincennes. I wrote about the walk already ten years ago (see here).


The 64 vaults along Avenue de Daumesnil in the 12th arrondissement have now all got windows – thus the reflections – and behind the windows you can find shops, galleries, workshops, cafés… It all goes under the name “Viaduc des Arts”.

I feel that the top picture shows a bit of the atmosphere around the place – a piece of art behind the window and – as reflections – a loving couple, three bikers, a young lady on a kick-skateboard…

So, here you can - behind the reflecting windows – find not only shops, but also a large number of workshops – paintings and restored art objects, hand-decorated porcelain, creative jewelry, wedding dresses, embroidery work, umbrellas and parasols, handmade shoes, lithographs, restored and newly made violins… and also what today remains of the famous Pleyel piano maker. 








6 comments:

Karen said...

Wow. Another place to add to my long list of things to see and new on my next visit.
It's so nice when they remake a place and turn it into such useful shops and workshops.

I hope to visit again soon.

Studio at the Farm said...

What a fantastic area. I could easily spend days just poking around there. Thank you, Peter for the "tour".

Kathryn

Shammickite said...

Lots of window shopping to do in this area. I could spend all day here!

Jeanie said...

This looks like a fun and fascinating place. And bravo for remaking!

Thérèse said...

Superbe cette coulée verte, je ne l'ai jamais parcourue mais un jour...

Anonymous said...

Counting from bottom:
In my dreams, I am the happy owner of that red pot (row #2) preparing "Potage Parmentier" (hot or cold) my dad's favorite soup...
Of that beautiful necklace on the left hand (row # 3) that reminds me of the dazzling windows of H. Stern in the Rio de Janeiro of my youth...
Of that painting by Jérôme Mesnager (row # 5)

On another subject:
Thanks to reading a wonderful book called "Love, Jack", by Swedish socialite Gunilla von Post, I learned some interesting things about President John F. Kennedy. Among them: Unbeknown to the outside world, he had a pleasant singing voice. He liked to sing at family gatherings, his mother accompanying him on the piano.

Of course this was no secret to this author, who as a young and beautiful girl became the great love of President Kennedy's youth. He liked to sing to her his favorite piece, Cole Porter's "I Love Paris" as they drove through the Swedish countryside...

"I Love Paris" - Cole Porter

http://youtu.be/-hU_X6Vr1M

Love this post! Thank you so much,

Maria