Viaduc des Arts - A garden in the city of Paris

Viaduc des Arts is one of these places that we don't talk about enough and it's a shame because it's awesome! That's what I think everytime I pass by there.

In the early 1980's, rather than destroy a work of art and erase the capital's industrial memory, the city of Paris decides to build a planted promenade of 4,5kms where the old Paris-Bastille railroad used to be during the XIXth century.
In 1990, Paris decided to conduct all operations related to rehabilitating the Viaduc; a project centered around the theme of artistic professions and building several "real estate islands" with living spaces, businesses and offices.

It's a 3,7 hectares between Bastille and Reuilly, centered around the old SNCF Viaduc.
There are 2 restaurants, 2 parkings lots, a 1,5km promenade - called la Promenade Plantée - and 45 amazing working studios.

Since the rehabilitation of its vaults and the creation of the Viaduc des Arts, the Avenue Daumesnil became a prestigious window of the French art's craft industry and the guarantee of its manufacturing techniques and contemporary creativity.
The Viaduc des Arts has acquired an international fame, as for the quality of its works everyday patiently created than for the great names constituting the chain of its vaults.

A tour of the best studios at the Viaduc is available on gridskipper.com

Thanks to Payton Chung and Anton Klimovsky for their great shots.