Viaduc des Arts

Leaving the Bastille area toward Avenue Daumesnil, the Viaduc des Arts presents an elegant transition between park and urban culture: a revitalized railway viaduct hosting workshops and boutiques. Originally built in 1859 by Emile Vuigner and Albert Bassompierre‑Sewrin to connect Bastille with eastern suburbs, it lost function in the 1970s after the introduction of the RER A and fell into disuse.

In the 1990s, architect Patrick Berger led its conversion: artisan workshops and galleries were installed beneath the arches, and the Viaduc des Arts officially opened to the public in 2000. The viaduct stretches over 1 kilometer, runs parallel to Avenue Daumesnil and is shaded by tree cover above.

It houses jewelry designers, leatherworkers, visual artists and gallery spaces. The Promenade Plantée is accessible via ramps. Entry is free, and studios are open to the public. Bastille metro station (lines 1, 5, 8, and 11) is about a ten‑minute walk away. The Viaduc des Arts continues to be a prime example of architectural transformation and cultural innovation.