While exploring the 13th arrondissement, you will no doubt see plenty of fellow students strolling down the streets, chatting, fooling around and seating at Parisian cafés.
The district is indeed home to plenty of established schools and universities, including Arts et Métiers ParisTech, Télécom ParisTech, the Cité de la Mode et du Design, Paris Diderot University (aka Paris 7), Tolbiac (an annex to University Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne), Gobelin and of course our very own Paris School of Business.
From business to fashion, the 13th arrondissement has become a beacon of excellence attracting students from every corner of France… and beyond.
While La Défense remained for years the main economic center in the French capital, the 13th district has recently become a strong contender!
A growing number of international companies have (re)located their headquarters to the up-and-coming 13th arrondissement, among which Accor, Ubisoft, Accenture, Natixis, The Walt Disney Company France… and the lists goes on.
The rising business district, named Paris Rive Gauche, was also chosen by star entrepreneur Xavier Niel as the location for his highly publicized business incubator, Station F. The innovative business campus is now home to hundreds of promising startups as well as noteworthy corporate partners including Facebook and Microsoft.
Does it come as a surprise then that our Parisian business school chose precisely the 13th arrondissement to train and shape tomorrow’s decision makers and entrepreneurs?
While the 13th arrondissement may not be on every tourist’s bucket list in Paris, it will no doubt delight art enthusiasts, architecture amateurs, book-lovers… and more broadly anyone who wants to get off the beaten tracks and experience an authentic, less touristic side of the French capital. Here are a few of the district’s highlights.
Crédits photo : Flickr | Tom Hilton
Didn’t we say that the 13th arrondissement was synonymous with creativity? The district is a vast playground for bold and innovative street artists. A total of 35 of the area’s buildings feature vibrant and colorful murals from some of the most renowned street artists in the world (including Conor Harrington, OBEY, Pantónio, C215 and D*Face).
Take a trip down metro line 6: most of the murals are located along Boulevard Vincent Auriol, between metro stations Quai de la Gare and Place d’Italie. And if this first overview of the district has sparked your curiosity, why not embark on a walking tour of the murals? You’ll find here a map of all the murals in the area.
If that still isn’t enough, you can always get your hands dirty and join a street art workshop during which street artists will teach you how to design your very own piece of street art.
Crédits photo : Flickr| Tom Hilton
Located east of the 13th arrondissement, The Butte-aux-Cailles (‘quail hill’ in English) is a picture-postcard village-like area right in the center of Paris. Uncanny!
With its picturesque streets lined up with quaint houses and buildings, the hilltop neighborhood is quite a unique sight in the French capital… and heaven on earth for Instagram-lovers.
Brimming with small bars and restaurants, the area has also become a trendy hotspot, loved by tourists and Parisians alike for its vibrant atmosphere and festive nightlife.
Crédits photo : Flickr | Alain Stoll
Attention, all book-lovers! Built in the 1990’s, the Bibliothèque François Mitterrand is one of the biggest and most modern libraries in the world.
Awarded with the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture in 1996, it is home to the vast majority of the collections of the Bibliothèque nationale de France (the French National Library, aka the BnF), created in the 14th century. It gathers a total of roughly 14 million books, as well as countless printed and multimedia documents, maps, photographs, cartoons, drawings, theatre costumes and sets…
The Bibliothèque François Mitterrand is open to anyone with a need to use the collections… So, what are you waiting for? Little detail that you may miss, the four buildings of the Bibliothèque François Mitterand are shaped like books.
Other sights and must-sees in the 13th arrondissement include:
Looking to blow off some steam after class? Here is a list of various sport activities within a few blocks of our business school!
The area is home to not one, but two of the trendiest swimming pools in Paris.
Crédits photo : Flickr | m3galo
The 13th arrondissement is heaven on earth for tennis lovers! The district is home to plenty of tennis courts where you’ll be able to freely practise your forehand and backhand:
To book municipal tennis courts, simply subscribe on paris.fr
You will soon realize that French people are true football aficionados… need we remind you that we won two World Cups?
If you share France’s love for football or simply want to discover what the hype is all about, why not try futsal, indoor football? Cherry on top: you’ll find a futsal complex only a few minutes away from Paris School of Business (Le Five, 9 Avenue de la Porte de Choisy, 75013 Paris).
The bad news is you’ll have no more excuses to skip a workout session. The good news is you’ll find quite a few gyms only a few steps away from Paris School of Business!
From private gyms to public fitness centers, the options are numerous and you can pick what works best for you depending on your budget and needs:
- Private gyms :
- Public fitness centres :
If none of the options above inspire you, we advise you to have a look at the list of the sports associations in the 13th arrondissement, which you’ll find on the city hall’s website here.
Acrobatics, aikido, basketball, boxing, fencing… the options are endless and you will certainly find what you’re looking for!
The 13th arrondissement counts quite a few restaurants that will no doubt satisfy even the most demanding foodies. Here are a few of the district’s top spots:
At nightime, the 13th arrondissement turns into a trendy and festive hotspot for tourists and Parisians alike. Here are some of the top bars, concert venues and clubs in the area:
And if you want to experience Paris like a local, head for the Quais de Seine (Quai François Mauriac, 75013 Paris) as soon as the sun comes out: you’ll find plenty of Parisians chilling out and making the most of long summer nights in the capital.
Crédits photos : Flickr | Laurent PCB
While it may not have the flair of the more central arrondissements in the capital, the 13th district still counts quite a few areas where to freely indulge in a shopping spree. Shops and boutiques are gathered in:
In the neighboring 12th arrondissement, very close to our school, shopaholics will no doubt find their heart’s desire in Bercy Village, a shopping centre located at Cour Saint-Emilion metro station.
Post Office: 19 Rue Simone Weil, 75013
Paris ATMs:
Grocery shops:
Printers:
