Situated in the heart of the 17th district, the Batignolles district continues to reinvent itself while retaining an atmosphere that is unique in Paris. Here’s a brief guided tour!
The Batignolles village spirit
Families meet there. Friends and children meet there. The Place du Dr Felix Lobligeois, with its church, pedestrianised area and lively terraces, is the heart of the Batignolles district.
The charms of the quarter’s village-like lifestyle can also be found in the neighbouring streets not far from the Hôtel des Arts, such as the Rue des Dames, Rue des Moines and Rue Legendre. The various food stores, fashion boutiques and decor shops as well as the covered market located at 96bis Rue Lemercier all add to the ambiance and a way of life much appreciated by the inhabitants.
The all-organic market held every Saturday morning is a must. Dedicated moviegoers swear by the Cinema des Cinéastes on the Avenue de Clichy, founded in 1930. The Batignolles district’s location in the northeast of Paris also offers the opportunity to discover other relatively little-known but interesting neighbourhoods such as the City of Flowers in the Épinettes quarter.
More than just a pleasant park
Nestled behind the Church of Sainte-Marie des Batignolles is the Square des Batignolles, a peaceful green space of more than 16,000 m2 that was designed as an English-style garden by Baron Haussmann. Here, far from the madding tourist crowds, it’s a serene pleasure to sit on one of the benches and enjoy the lapping of the gentle stream and the sight of contented ducks bustling around the large pond. The park’s many and varied trees include a giant sequoia. There is also a waterfall and a grotto. The old-fashioned carousel and swings are a popular meeting place for children after school.
******
Photo : Square des Batignolles © Paris Tourist Office - Photographe Marc Bertrand
Hotel des Arts Montmartre, a charming and comfortable hotel