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Due to its long history, the Bastille quarter of Paris has witnessed many changes. At the beginning of this century, it was an important centre for tradesmen like furniture-makers, who ran their ateliers in the many small passages and courtyards while Spanish immigrants lived in the apartments above. All that changed in the 60's when many artists, attracted by the unique covered passages and courtyard ateliers, moved in. A bewildering variety of artists' cafés and cabarets appeared in their wake. Prices doubled, the immigrants left, and today the Bastille is one of the hippest and most sought-after quarters of Paris (slowly expanding northward into Oberkampf).
Despite its popularity, the Bastille remains a safe quarter of Paris, and is frequented more by Parisians than tourists. Still, a 20-minute walk to Notre Dame, crossing the charming Ile St. Louis, will bring you into the more touristy area of le Quartier Latin.
This is a lively area that offers a bit of everything. To the west is the Place de la République which is joined to the Place de la Bastille in the east by the sweeping tree lined Boulevard Richard Lenoir, with its large markets and children's parks. Bastille and rue du Faubourg St Antoine are a favourite for trendy cafés, restaurants and nightlife and also have a range of boutiques and galleries. The Oberkampf district to the north is another popular area for nightlife. The east is more residential and commerce becomes more wholesale, but the areas around Voltaire and Parmentier are livelier crossroads for the local community.
The apartments are in an excellent location right in the heart of this area. Spread over two buildings the benefit from 2 courtyards which allow residents somewhere peaceful and quiet to go to in the hubub of the city. The design is elegant and modern and the apartments range from studio's to 4 bedroom duplexs which is quite rare in a central location in Paris.
The apartments benefit from either balconies, terraces and some even have private gardens. They all share however in the latest security technologywith videophone and digicode entrances.
Five metro lines converge at M. République and three at M. Bastille, which means the constant traffic flow makes it easy to get to, and the cost effective lodgings worth the travel
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