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THE FAUBOURGS, LEGACY OF A PARISIAN HISTORY

The reputation of the neighborhood is intricately linked to that of its faubourgs, which appeared in the middle of the 17 th century. Behind the walls and cobble stones of Bastille lies the past of a district full of life. The crafts men, most of whom migrated from the provinces and from foreign countries, settled here and developed trades like boiler making, small iron work and such ot her crafts. Soon, cabinet maker stook hold of this area which rapidly gained recognition owing to this expertise and these exotic essences of wood. During the industrial revolution, the population grows. Crafts men gradually give way to manufactures. Residential and industrial buildings blend. Scurrying, whistling workers become part and parcel of the scenery. The faubourgs, newly incorporated into the city of Paris, soon turn into a meeting point for many migrant workers. Today, the 11th arrondissement is the most densely populated of the capital and a hot bed of social and cultural diversity. As a working-class district, the faubourgs are home to a frantic Parisian life, from the popular dances of the Belle Époque to the year 1789,  when the Revolutionaries turned the majestic Place de la Bastille into an eternal symbol.

AN AUTHENTIC PARISIAN DISTRICT

True to its heritage, the Bastille district has grown to become one of the most energetic and historic of the capital. Around the famed July Column, it is a focal point of encounters and stories. An undeniable symbol of the Paris of yester year, the neighborhood is packed with ancient monuments and steep back alleys worthy of a movie set. Infused with a frenzied feeling, the district is a crisscross of typical restaurants, fashionable bars, mythical night clubs, ethnic grocery stores and avant-gardist arts paces. As a reflection of its history, the neighborhood reveals a particularly charismatic side of Paris, steeped in tradition yet popular. A duality that is also evidenced in the coexistence of Haussmannian buildings and contemporary works such as the Opera Bastille in a blend that makes for a vibrant, lively ambience. The neighborhood serves as across roads for several worlds – the early crafts man ship spirit endures, but has given way to a new face of Bastille. It is a whole chapter in the history of Paris – and of France, for that matter – that one crosses when meandering through the area.