A Walk Around the 11th Arrondissement of Paris

The 11th arrondissement of Paris (XIe arrondissement) is one of the 20 arrondissements of the capital city of France. In spoken French, this arrondissement is referred to as onzième. The arrondissement, called Popincourt, is situated on the right bank of the River Seine. The arrondissement is one of the most densely populated urban districts of any European city. The eleventh arrondissement is a varied and engaging area. To the west lies the Place de la République, which is linked to the Place de la Bastille, in the east, by the sweeping, tree-lined Boulevard Richard-Lenoir, with its large markets and children’s parks. The Place de la Bastille and the rue du Faubourg St Antoine are full of fashionable cafés, restaurants, and nightlife, and they also contain a range of boutiques and galleries. The Oberkampf district to the north is another popular area for nightlife. The east is more residential, with more wholesale commerce, while the areas around the Boulevard Voltaire and the Avenue Parmentier are livelier crossroads for the local community. In recent years this district has emerged as one of the trendiest regions of Paris. On November 13, 2015, it was the site of coordinated shootings and bombings that left 132 dead.