Rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine, Viaduc des Arts and the Marché d’Aligre showcase Paris’s craft heritage. The 12th arrondissement has historically been a hub for traditional trades and crafts, not least because all the merchandise purchased by the city authorities transited though the Port de l’Arsenal. Numerous carpentry and joinery workshops began to be established in the courtyards and passageways leading off Rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine from the 12th century onwards, transforming it into one of the principal commercial streets in Paris. The district, which was largely populated by tradesmen and craftsmen because it was exempt from taxation, also witnessed the first wave of popular revolt from April 1789, particularly on the legendary Place de la Bastille. These days, this busy street is lined with cabinet makers and shops of every description. This walk leading from historic courtyards to the venerable Marché d’Aligre and on to the astonishing Viaduc des Arts offers an opportunity to explore an area where Paris’s traditional crafts and way of living have been preserved over the centuries.
