Here on Voie de/13 we find ourselves in the 13th arrondissement. This Parisian district is known as le treizième. Did you know it sits on the left bank of the River Seine? The 13th arrondissement has grown thanks to Asian immigrants. Many residents speak Teochew Cantonese Vietnamese Lao and Khmer.
Let’s explore some facts about this vibrant arrondissement. It is home to Paris’s principal Asian community the Quartier Asiatique. This area has many high-rise apartment buildings. You will find Chinese and Vietnamese businesses here. Since 2007, Jérôme Coumet has been the mayor.
The Bibliothèque nationale de France’s François Mitterrand site is in the 13th arrondissement. The newly built business district of Paris Rive Gauche is also here. In 1999, the population was 171533. That same year the arrondissement contained 89316 jobs. This number has since grown considerably.
Historically the population has changed. In 1872 it was 69431. By 2009 it peaked at 182032. The head office of Accor is in the Immeuble Odyssey in the 13th arrondissement. Ubisoft also has a business office here.
The 13th arrondissement offers many places of interest. The Quartier Asiatique is locally called la Triangle de Choisy or la petite Asie. You can find Les Olympiades here as well. These are some of the tallest towers in Paris. Visit Tang Frères and Paristore Asian supermarkets. The Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital is another landmark. Don’t miss the Butte-aux-Cailles and the Gare d’Austerlitz.
The Gobelins Manufactory is a historic site. Art Ludique – Le Musée is dedicated to the art of entertainment. The University of Chicago Center in Paris is located here. Visit 6 Villa des Gobelins. Hồ Chí Minh lived here from 1919 to 1921. See Notre-Dame de la Gare a historic church.
Street Art 13 features amazing frescoes. You might spot the Teddy bears of the Gobelins. They are often photographed around the neighborhood. Parc Kellermann is a lovely public park. Rue Zadkine and Rue Paul-Klee are worth a stroll. Don’t forget Place d’Italie and Place Jean-Michel Basquiat. A large section of the 13th arrondissement was rebuilt in modernist style in the 1970s. The 13th arrondissement truly is a vibrant mix of culture history and modernity.