You can browse the shops of Viaduc des Arts independently, or join one of the many small-group walking tours of the Bastille district that also explore this area. These tours guide you to gourmet shops (including Alain Ducasse’s legendary chocolate shop) and bustling food markets, and also typically visit the Place de la Bastille and the Port de l’Arsenal, where the Canal Saint-Martin joins the river Seine. Most tours that visit Viaduc des Arts include food tastings.
Viaduc des Arts is a must-visit for shoppers, foodies, and culture lovers.
In addition to shops, the area has plenty of cafés and restaurants to choose from.
The Viaduc des Arts offers a great way to learn about the city’s artisans. You can watch flute makers, glassblowers, painting conservators, violin-bow makers, and more at work.
Viaduc des Arts is located in the heart of Paris, in the bustling Gare de Lyon/Bercy neighborhood, on the edge of the Bastille district. The closest Paris Metro station is Bastille, which is on lines 1, 5, and 8.
The shops and boutiques of the Viaduc des Arts have varying hours—check ahead. Saturdays and Sundays are typically the busiest times here, and though you may have to battle some crowds, visiting on the weekend offers an appealing glimpse into Parisian life. The Promenade Plantée is open from sunrise to sundown (although times vary according to the seasons).
After combing through the oddities and artwork of Viaduc des Arts, visitors can wander the gardens of the Promenade Plantée, an elevated park just above the shops that stretches almost 1 mile (1.3 kilometers) from Place de la Bastille to Jardin de Reuilly. The promenade is said to have inspired New York City’s High Line.
