An event dedicated to gastronomy and the art of living inaugurates the opening of a Christmas village in the Bastille neighborhood. This village will be welcoming visitors until December 31, 2013, so guests staying at the Hôtel Louvre Marsollier can take a short metro trip to this famously hip area to check out the sights and the activities.
On December 6 and 7, the fourth edition of an event called Bastille Quartier Libre (Bastille Free Neighborhood, in English) will be held for Paris residents and visitors alike. During this weekend, artisans, designers and artists will come to reveal their creations to an appreciative public. The event begins on Friday evening, with a choreographed parade starting at 6:30 p.m. where jugglers, dancers and music will welcome spectators to the neighborhood. This parade is then followed by a party where visitors can participate in tastings and watch street spectacles.
The event continues on Saturday with merchants, restauranteurs, creators, gallery owners, and other artisans and artists presenting tastings, concerts, shows, workshops and exhibits. After the 7th of December, the festivities continue with the Christmas Village of the Bastille.
This gives visitors the chance to discover the charming alleys of the area, which may be hidden out of view during most of the year. For the holidays, however, porcelain arrows point crowds in the right direction so that they can explore these little-known streets. On December 12 and December 19, the Christmas Village will be open extra late until 9 p.m. — this is a special event accompanied by lively street appearances made by Christmas characters.
The Christmas Village is therefore the perfect occasion to see the Bastille neighborhood at its best and meet the merchants and characters who warm up Paris during the holiday season.
Bastille Quartier Libre and the Bastille Christmas Village
Place de la Bastille, 75011
Metro: Bastille
