Viaduc des Arts

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When a former railroad right-of-way extending from the Bastille to the eastern city limit of Paris was converted to a parkway a few years ago, the arches beneath the refurbished viaduct at the eastern end were converted to studios and workshops for skilled craftspeople. Today, the Viaduc des Arts /viadyk dez aʁ/ is inhabited by highly skilled artisans of all types. During weekdays, you can visit shops here that produce handmade ceramics, glassware, furniture, musical instruments, and so on. None of it is cheap, of course, since it is all handmade. The concept has proven to be quite a success and there are quite a few shops beneath the viaduct today.

This photograph shows the viaduct and the sidewalk next to it. You can see the shops beneath the arches. The two arches nearest to the camera produce custom furniture and leather goods. You are looking roughly east in the photograph, which was taken from the eastern end of the Viaduc des Arts, not far from the Bastille.

Photographed on June 20, 2000.