Architecture around the Opéra Bastille and the Gare de Lyon

The walk begins at place de la Bastille, a site which has been rebuilt and modified many times over the centuries – and is still undergoing changes today. This perpetual renewal has become part of its history and the Bastille has always been, and remains, a national symbol.

From in front of the Opera designed by Carlos Ott – an architect who was almost unknown at the time (it is said that the competition he won was meant to honour another architect) – we will walk down the rue de Lyon, past a number of remarkable buildings, to the Gare de Lyon. The station was built for the Universal Exhibition of 1900, which prompted a complete redevelopment of the area (notably the demolition of the Mazas prison opposite the station) including the building of the iconic restaurant Le Train Bleu.

We will follow a couple of detours to discover some hidden gems such as the delightful rue Crémieux and before we leave the area, we will have a look at the modern district taking shape between rue de Bercy and the Seine, which illustrates the aim of today’s planners to further develop the eastern side of the capital.