09/10/2017
‘ La Villete; the heart of the River and Nature in Paris ‘
‘River, a natural stream of water flowing in a channel to the sea, a lake or another river’
Quais de la Seine, the ever-flowing heart of Paris, connecting La Tour Eiffel with the Louvre, Notre Damme with the Conciergerie, the City Hall with the Bibliothèque François Mitterand, the Tuileries Garden with the Palais Bourbon… A strong body of water, unchaging, ever-lasting, that witnesses the City grow around it. A force that has seen the Parisii tribe establish a fishing village for the very first time along its banks, drinking his tears, feeding from his soul. A force that was conquered, almost entrapped, abused by human existence, especially in 1931, when King Philip IV started creating live around it, constructing quays. First came Quai des Grands Augustins (Left Bank), followed by Quai de la Mégisserie and Quai des Célestins and many others.
The pumping heart of Paris, The Seine, dissects the city into two sections; the Left Bank (‘River Gauche) and Right Bank (‘River Droite). The Left and Right Bank, separated by this natural striking force, come to life, are sustained by the Seine and built around it, like an organ surrounded by veins, connections.
From Quai de la Seine and Quai de la Loire, that form the Bassin the la Villete, into Quai de L’Oise, a current is formed, that encircles La Villette. La Villette, home to many museums; the Science and Industry museum, the Kids Museum (‘Le Cité des Enfants’), Cité de la musique or various theatres like Trabendo, Grande Halle de la Villette or the Theatre Paris-Villette. A nature-filled area characterised by the strong influence of the Arts, an area flooded with Street art, filled with museums and especially theatres. Located in the XIXe arrondisement, the Park contains an amusing 55 hectares, the third largest one in the city of Paris.
The area being the largest park and Green space in the city, with three thousand different species of threes and various different species of plants and animals and Canal de L’Ourcq flowing through makes this space a unique Oasis in a City full of movement and pollution.
