Paris Metro Line 11 Must-Sees

This line is unusual in that it starts right in the heart of Paris, at Châtelet, and its 13 stations lead to the suburb of Les Lilas in the northeast, making it the shortest line, apart from the two -bis lines. That said, the line is currently being extended east toward Roisny-Bois-Perrier. What makes Line 11 a little more interesting than the others, is maybe that it was not part of the original metro plan, but was built in 1935 to replace the funicular tramway that used to run between Place de la République all the way uphill to the since-demolished Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Belleville.

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Today you can hop on at Châtelet, Paris’s busiest and largest transit hub where four metro lines encounter three RER trains, including the RER B to CDG Airport. This is the station to get out for some shopping along Rue de Rivoli or at the large underground shopping center of Les Halles — if you can find the correct exit, that is.

For fewer crowds and a less confusing station, you’re better off heading to the next stop Hôtel de Ville. You can get to the above-mentioned shopping spots from here too, as well as the BHV Department store and the Ile de la Cité with must-see sights Notre Dame and La Conciergerie.

The following stop of Rambuteau is perfect for visiting the Centre George Pompidou, the Jardin Anne Frank, and Le Marais neighborhood — simply follow Rue Rambuteau until it changes names to Rue des Francs Bourgeois, and you’ll end up in the heart of this cool district.

With its wonderful steampunk, copper-clad platform, the next station, Arts et Métiers, is a destination in its own right. Just outside this stop, you’ll find the excellent Arts et Métiers museum which is home to a couple Statues of Liberty, Foucault’s Pendulum, and so much more.

Paris’s Metro Line 11 continues northeast on to République, a gigantic city square where demonstrations and other events regularly take place on the weekends. At the intersection of the 3rd, 10th, and 11th arrondissements, this major intersection serves as a gateway into the Haut-Marais area and to the Canal Saint-Martin. It’s also where the old tramline began its trundle toward the nearby Belleville neighborhood.

Line 11’s tracks next take you to Goncourt, a stop close to the old Hôpital Saint-Louis whose courtyard and gardens are worth a visit, and also the lovely Quai des Jemmapes along the Canal Saint-Martin.

Metro station Belleville follows, its name translating to “beautiful city”. This bustling quarter’s full of life, fabulous street art (check out Rue Denoyez), and superb Chinese and Vietnamese restaurants, perfect for travellers on a budget.

From here, you can either walk up the steep Rue de Belleville, or for an easier option, take the Line 11 to the next stop, Pyrénées, and walk down to the Parc de Belleville for some of the best views across Paris. Or you could walk on toward the neighborhood and the Parc des Buttes Chaumont, which lies steps away along Boulevard Simon Bolivar.

The remaining stops along Line 11 are mostly residential, with Télégraphe allowing you to visit a tiny but charming cemetery. The rails then cross the péripherique toward the suburb of Les Lilas. The town hall, or Mairie, is rather picturesque, this busy suburb doesn’t boast any major tourist attractions.