Spotlight on: the Bastille district
Why not get away from the heart of the capital to hold your event in a less well-known district of Paris, sometimes a little out of the centre, or newly hip? Read on to find out more …
Starting from the famous square, the meeting point of 4 Parisian districts, (3rd, 4th, 11th, and 12th arrondissements of Paris), imagine an event tailored to your requirements, with the best service providers.
FOCUS ON PLACE DE LA BASTILLE
Since January 2021 and after 2 years of renovation and a splendid transformation, the Place de la Bastille sports a whole new look. This welcoming and accessible square now gives priority to pedestrians and environmentally friendly transport, over an area of 11,000 m² stretching from the July Column, topped by its famous Genius of Liberty, to the Esplanade of the Port de l’Arsenal.
Did you know? The famous July Column, in the middle of Place de la Bastille, the site of the former Bastille Prison, reopened to the public in October 2021 (visits to the lower parts of the monument: guided tours only and only at the weekend).
4 AMAZING PLACES FOR YOUR EVENT
Starting from Place de la Bastille, with its modern architecture, the Opéra National de Paris - Opéra Bastille invites you to plan your most upscale events! Different spaces are available for all types of formats, not forgetting the main auditorium for major events (up to 2,745 people seated).
Just a stone’s throw from there, the Majestic Bastille – Dulac Cinémas, a magnificent building from the 1930s, is an ideal venue for a screening. Renovated in 2017, the place is comfortable and well-equipped. The auditorium accommodates up to 250 people.
Going northwards, the 11th arrondissement offers 2 atypical venues:
The Atelier des Lumières, occupies a former foundry transformed into 1,300 m² of spaces that stage large-scale immersive experiences: images and videos, with music, are projected on the ground and the walls of its vast spaces. Host your receptions and seminars in this new cultural space to surprise your guests with a complete and innovative experience, entirely in line with your event.
Finally, La Maison des Métallos, a hybrid cultural venue in a working-class and friendly neighbourhood, offers 6 meeting rooms for all types of corporate events (up to 400 people for a cocktail reception).
RESTAURANTS FOR PRIVATE HIRE FOR SOCIAL GATHERINGS
Traditional or original, available for private hire for small or large groups; within close proximity to the Place de la Bastille, 3 ideas for a successful event at a restaurant venue:
Hold your event directly on the Place de la Bastille: Les Grandes Marches, a traditional brasserie on 2 levels, adjoining the Bastille opera house. A comfortable and welcoming setting with a private room to hire and admire the lively atmosphere of the square from dawn to dusk. The brasserie can accommodate up to 140 people for a sit-down meal and up to 200 people for a buffet or cocktail reception. The space on the 1st floor is modular and is available for full private hire.
Just one street away from the Place, envisage your event at the iconic Brasserie Bofinger, a place which has remained true to its character throughout the ages in its exceptional historical décor. The menu features specialities from the Alsace. For corporate events, several solutions, ranging from convivial to more private, are available: room rentals or rooms for a private group meal or a cocktail party with colleagues. The rooms can accommodate up to 150 people for a cocktail party, up to 100 people for a sit-down meal, and up to 60 people for a meeting.
Finally, along the Faubourg Saint-Antoine, the Pachamama transports you into another world for an evening in South America! A mystical, enchanting setting, in a historic building designed by Gustave Eiffel, provides an exotic getaway. The venue has over 1,500 m² of space spread over 4 levels and is suitable for hosting all types of events from 30 to over 1,000 guests: group dinners, after-work events, cocktail parties, and dance evenings.
QUALITY SERVICE PROVIDERS TO TREAT YOURSELF (AND OTHERS)
In the lively Rue de la Roquette, a must-see is the Manufacture Chocolat Alain Ducasse, one of the rare places where chocolate is made in a traditional way, from the roasting of the cocoa beans to the finished chocolate product. For chocolate business gifts or to treat your teams …!
HOTELS FOR ACCOMMODATION, MEETINGS OR RELAXATION
At the heart of the 11th arrondissement, between Place de la Bastille and Place de la Nation, the Maison Boutet, a former cabinet making workshop, then chocolate factory, has been transformed into a sublime 5* hotel: the Hôtel Paris Bastille Boutet – MGallery. Boasting an Art Deco facade, this establishment has preserved the traces of its industrial past. Guests are welcomed in an elegant and friendly lobby bar, with an adjoining breakfast room and two magnificent, planted patios ideally suited to an after-work event or a cocktail reception for up to 70 people. The 80 guest rooms and suites have elegant design interiors, some also have a balcony or a terrace overlooking the Parisian rooftops. The spa and pool are a veritable aquatic haven away from the busy capital, and a gym is also available.
To enjoy that home from home feeling during a business trip, choose an aparthotel!
At the Adagio Access Paris Bastille or Citadines Bastille Marais Paris, settle into apartments that are fully equipped, peaceful and luminous with quality hotel services.
Just 10 minutes from Gare de Lyon, the hotel Ibis Paris Bastille Opéra 11th offers 305 guest rooms, a traditional brasserie and a sunny terrace. 6 meeting rooms with natural daylight are also available for private hire (from 7 to 80 people).
LEISURELY STROLLS
The Bastille district is also the starting point for some picturesque walks. You can enjoy these in your free time or as part of your event programme and take the time to discover some of Paris’s little-known green spaces: La Coulée Verte René-Dumont is a 4-km pedestrian greenway that runs along a former railway line; a wonderful, elevated walk amidst areas of wild vegetation and modern garden areas. It is also an alternative and unusual viewpoint, right in the heart of the 12th arrondissement.
Setting off from Place de la Bastille, take a stroll around the Bassin de l’Arsenal; a small marina between the Canal Saint-Martin and the Seine, where there is a delightful garden on the quayside.
