Any trip to France is incomplete without a few weeks spent living in the capital like a chic Parisian and at least a few days in a bucolic French-countryside village. Unfortunately for some of us, finances and a short time off from work force us to make a choice. And more often than not it’s the boulevards, designer boutiques and grand restaurants that beat out the Roman ruins, small farms and funny French accents. Thanks to some ingenious urban renewal, Bercy Village plops the French countryside (or at least an imagined version of it) right in the middle of Paris. Many of New York Habitat’s Paris accommodations put you within walking distance of the faux countryside charm.
We’ve already told you about the ascension of the city’s Bercy quarter , but the Bercy Village deserves some attention all to itself. The village brings to life the spirit of market shopping entirely unique in Paris. On each side of the street are low-rise buildings plucked right out of the 18th century and restaurant tables jut out onto the cobblestoned pedestrian rue from the village’s several cafes.
Also filling the buildings are small art galleries, clothing boutiques, restaurants and, at one end of the street, a large UGC movie theater. The village is a perfect start to a stroll around the quarter and lies directly adjacent to Bercy Park and just across the Seine from the National Library. One storefront in Bercy is particularly mouth watering to Anglophone tastebuds–The Frog micro-brasserie, an English-style pub brewing its own pints on site.
For an entirely unique Paris experience stay on this Seine-docked house boat, a 1-bedroom rental accommodation in Bastille, Marais - Les Halles (PA-3374). Staying in this accommodation is an experience in itself and one your friends at home will not believe. Also available from New York Habitat is the contemporary styling of this 2-bedroom rental apartment in Bastille, Marais - Les Halles (PA-2488)which puts you a short walk from Bercy Village. Also a petit promenade from the village is this 1-bedroom rental apartment in Bastille, Pere Lachaise - Nation (PA-2663).
So next time you’re torn between visiting Paris or the countryside come to Paris, and take a trip to a country side village on your way to the Eiffel Tower.
Related apartment rental posts from New York Habitat:
- New York Habitat goes off of Paris’ beaten path in Bercy
- New York Habitat storms Paris’ Bastille: Rent an apartment!
February 21st, 2008 at 1:38 pm
I didn’t realize there was such a place as Bercy when I was showing Paris to my daughter! Now I really wanna go again and stay off the tourbus. I adore little French markets for their honey, cheese, and fresh mutton, and that boathouse apartment sounds like a dream - I thought that was only possible in Amsterdam.
February 28th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
I am student in Paris and I’m renting an apartment in Bercy Village. I love this area and wouldn’t change for anything. Bercy area is affordable, it’s close to my university, very convenient with the Meteor subway, and Bercy village is so cute to hang out during week ends and also lively at night. According to me it’s the perfect location for long stay in Paris.