Viaduc des Arts – A Place For Artisans In The 12th Arrondissement

There's a secret Paris address you'll want to add to your itinerary when you want to take a break from the obvious shopping areas like St-Germain and St-Honoré. Take a detour to an artisan's mecca that once was part of an urban train line. Here you discover a unique shopping experience — tapestries, furnishings, lighting specialists, artisan jewelers, chocolatiers, and even piano restorers fill the Viaduc des Arts workshops, retail spaces, and showrooms. Today, the center is home to more than fifty craftspeople specializing in fashion, decoration, culture, and jewelry.

Built in the 1859, the Viaduc was once a vital inner-city train line in the 12th Arrondissement of Paris. (The arches of the viaduct supported the train tracks above.) A century later the railway was replaced by an underground train line. For years afterwards the arches languished until the City of Paris gave the green light to restore the property. At the same time a tree-lined walkway, the Promenade Plantée, was constructed on the overhead tracks. Today, the kilometre-long stretch of ateliers, shops, and cafes attract locals as well as an international set. The selection of shops at Viaduc des Arts tends to change, but the following list gives a very good indication of what you'll find here.

Le Viaduc des Arts Ateliers

Maison Fey

Established in 1910, Maison Fey specializes in leather-covered, stamped and embossed books, frames and furnishings. When you enter the shop, you will be amazed at the variety of calfskin, goat, and ostrich skins in every shade hanging from the ceiling. Against a wall is a row of wooden-handled implements used to emboss decorative gold or silver designs on leathers, one of the house's most popular items. They also fix old leather boxes and reupholster leather furniture.
• Website…

Le Bonheur des Dames Embroidery

Le Bonheur des Dames embroidery's founder, Cécile Vessière, creates colorful and elegant scenes of everyday life combining embroidery techniques with Saxon, Celtic and Latin traditions. In Japan, Vessière is recognized as one of the ten best artisans of France.

Historic Parisian Luxury Lighting Fixtures

Maison Baguès, established in Paris in 1840, specializes in luxury light fixtures. Iron and bronze lamps are crafted using traditional techniques. The chandeliers, lamps and wall lighting fixtures are hand-assembled and finished with unique patinas.
• Website…

Pleyel Pianos & Restoration

Pleyel Pianos & Restoration, represent high-end classical and collectors pianos. Pleyel pianos are easily recognized by their delicate touch and feel. Pleyel also specializes in piano tuning, harmony regulation, and valuations. You might recognize their name from the famous Paris performance hall, Salle Pleyel, built in the 1920s. Both the restoration company and the concert venue are named for a famous and historic French piano-making company that closed its doors in 2013.

Rinck

Does your castle need a renovation? (Ours does.) Rinck, founded in 1841, specializes in the art of French savoir faire. The design company revitalizes offices, private residences, luxury brands, mansions, and palaces. Click on the website link to get them started on your château. (Be sure to build a spacious guest room. Hint.)
• Website…

Philippe Ferrandis Jewelry

Since 1986, Philippe Ferrandis has created jewelry, fashion accessories and decorative objects. He uses natural materials from stone, wood to molten glass and his crystal jewelry are all set in fashioned metal.

Cyrille Varet

No. 102 Viaduc des Arts houses the nouveau Baroque designs of Cyrille Varet, who produces curved brushed steel in asymmetrical shapes and upholsters them in jewel tones.
• Website…

Aurélie Cherell

Aurélie Cherell is a young designer who specializes in made-to-measure wedding dresses, cocktail dresses, and prêt-à-porter (that's ready-to-wear, mon ami). Cherell's creations are made with taffeta, organza, satin, and shantung silk to highlight a woman's personality.

Handmade Fabrics

Malhia overflows with gorgeous fabrics woven on site and in full view and available as sweaters, scarves, coat and shawls. Buy one of their reasonably priced pieces and come away with a hand-decorated Malhia bag.
• Website…

Terracotta Tiles

Rairies Montrieux produces terracotta tiles as well as reproductions of old and contemporary tiles. Their tiles are made of 100% natural clay and are perfect for walls, floors, and gardens.

Mosaics

Atelier lilikpó makes custom mosaics based on an ancient techniques and materials like molten glass, enamels, porcelain stoneware, marble, gold leaf and leather mosaics.

Dining at Le Viaduct

There are several dining options along Le Viaduct. Jamon Jamon restaurant & delicatessen features Spanish cuisine; Le Viaduc Cafe has sidewalk tables and jazz brunches on Sundays.
• Le Viaduc Cafe Website…

Le Viaduc des Arts Resources

• Along Avenue Daumesnil, starting at Rue de Lyon
• 12th Arrondissement
• Hours vary from shop to shop
• Metro – Ledru-Rollin, Line 8; Gare de Lyon, Lines 1 & 14