Parsian Walks, Viaduc des Arts.

                                                                    Viaduc des Arts,

Paris, Viaduc des Arts.

Paris must be high on the list of walkers paradises, the pleasure it affords anyone who makes time and effort to enjoy the aesthetic offerings will be truly rewarded. No matter where you wander in central Paris rarely will you encounter a jarring note to distract from your enjoyment. The Parisian Council or French Government should be congratulated for the diligence displayed over the years to ensure that scale, colour, texture, design and so on of buildings are compatible with existing architecture  resulting in a beautiful city without parallel. The best part they continue to do so, there are naturally blemishes but they are few. Walking affords the best way to discover a city, to explore the small gems tucked away from main though fares in small squares or narrow back streets. There is always the added knowledge that generally a small café or bar will never be far away.

Viaduc des Arts near the Bastille is one such gem. A park created on top of an old railway viaduct would have to rate as highly imaginative. The viaduct built in 1859 offers a blend of the old and new with its fifty odd designer shops/studios tucked away underneath a walk through park, having fallen into disuse the viaduct was restored in 1994 and the studios built into the rose stone archways to create this art centre. I only discovered the complex by chance on a walk and was surprised by the quality of the activities taking place. Studios for the restoration of art works and frames, displays of craft glass, designer lights or fabrics are all there. Personally I would like to have seen more actual workshop activity rather than showroom display, but possibly this is not allowed.

The greatest surprise is the walk way itself on the viaduct roof, you may walk several kms along the old railway track now a paved path to the Vincennes woods. Both sides of the walk are lined with shady trees and flowering shrubs that hide to some extent prying eyes looking into peoples apartments. This vantage point however allowed me the opportunity to undertake a new batch of Parisian rooftop drawings on both sides of the walkway that I am carrying out as reference for future paintings. Often the buildings are close enough to nearly touch, so there was no problem with recording detail. Every now and then there would be park benches under a tree often occupied by lovers who seemed to appreciate the council thoughtfulness. On sunny days no doubt Parisian sunbake up here as well, the day I carried out my walk the Vincennes wood area was covered with Parisian soaking up the last rays of summer.