Bercy

“My calm corner of the 12th Arrondissement has now come to fully embody the meaning of the word ‘home’. I see it as a respite from more popular locations in the city that perpetually whir with a flurry of activity at all times. (But don’t let the calm fool you, with easy access to buses, metro lines 6 & 8, and the T3a tramline, you can easily access the trendy spots in this Paris district).

My life here centers around the metro stop Daumesnil (henceforth known as ‘my’ métro — I’ve clearly become a little possessive), accented by the grandiose lion fountain that, fun fact, was originally placed in Place de la République. If you walk southeast down Avenue Daumesnil from my metro, you’ll find yourself at the entrance to the Bois de Vincennes, an immense forest filled with lakes, trails, wildlife and the castle that once controlled this wood. My fiancé and I have made many memories here going on long walks, challenging runs, or stopping to have a picnic lunch in the sun.

If you take the opposite direction on Avenue Daumesnil (northwesterly), the atmosphere shifts, eventually giving way to the chic Viaduc des Arts.  Take a moment to look up and you’ll see a section of the Promenade Plantée, a raised walking path (previously a railroad line) that extends from Porte Dorée to Bastille and makes for a lovely leisurely Sunday stroll.”