topeater

Finishing the last of planning for our upcoming May trip to France. Was hoping to get some advice about a couple of things we are considering.

1. Does anyone recommend the tours given by Context Travel? Several look good, so we are trying to decide if which ones. Can you recommend anyone else? We have done the Paris by Mouth tour and some other wine and food tours, so not really looking for that sort of thing on this trip. We are more interested in neighborhoods and history.

2. Also was curious about Parc Clichy-Batignolles - Martin Luther King park. Have never been in that area of Paris and was intrigued by the story of it's creation over the years. Has anyone been? If so, what did you think and are there other things in the area we should check out?

Thanks for any info.

PalenQ

Well for those like I who never heard to this park and love outlying Paris parks like La Vilette and Citroens and Belleville I had to look it up- looks like an eclectic array of stuff - many sports-oriented to serve this rather down-scale I believe area. the flea market seems should not be to far away but I do not think very much of tourist interest in this former industrial site I would suppose anyway by looking at all the railways running into the area.

Thanks for posting!

https://www.google.com/webhp?sourcei...in-luther-king

topeater

I was looking up restaurants that John Talbot reviewed and several others have loved, Coretta which borders the park. Researching it, I discovered the new area that I believe was finished last year after a decade of work. I'm always looking for something kind of off the beaten path. I've certainly strayed too far a couple of times.

Nikki

I have not been in the park but I have stayed in the Batignolles, which is a charming, village-like residential neighborhood. There is a good organic market on Saturday mornings on the boulevard des Batignolles. The Square des Batignolles is a park that appears to border the new park, and that is a nice green space filled with strolling neighborhood families. There are several restaurants just outside this park on the square with a church, and there is a covered market nearby.

kerouac

Here is the photo report I made about the Parc Martin Luther King: http://anyportinastorm.proboards.com...in-luther-king

They are creating an entirely new neighborhood is the area, which used to be a vast rail yard for freight to clear customs. Metro line 14 is being extended through there and in a few years the park will have its own metro station: Pont Cardinet.

kerouac

One very noteworthy building under construction now at the very back of the park in the new Palais de Justice, which is the first major high rise to be built in Paris in the last several decades -- 39 stories tall.

fuzzbucket

I recommend Context Tours and have been on several of them - especially recommend the tours centered on immigration and Paris during war-time. They are a little expensive, but if you are looking for detailed information about architecture, history, art, etc - you will get what you want.

You've already done the very good PBM food tours, and I don't recommend taking a tour of any outdoor market, since there's really no point in that - it's hard to hear the guide, and chances are that you aren't going to buy or cook anything.

If you would like in-depth tours of some of the museums, the CT art historians are very knowledgeable without being stodgy about it.

topeater

Thanks for the information. Kerouac, I was hoping you would reply. When I looked at your pictures, I remember reading your blog a few years ago. We are planning to visit when we are there in a couple of weeks, so I'll post back.

Thanks Fuzzbucket, we booked the Lourve Crash Course (cause I always feel so overwhelmed when I've visited without a guide) and Revolutionary Paris. I'll report back.

Thanks everyone for replying.

topeater

We will be doing a tour of Montmartre from 2-5pm. Was thinking we would visit Parc Clichy-Batignolles afterwards. Is it safe to walk there or should we find another way?

fuzzbucket

This parc will be open all night long on Fridays and Saturdays in June, then will stay open all night during the week during July and August.
Here is a list and map of all parcs affected this summer:
http://www.leparisien.fr/paris-75/pa...w.google.fr%2F

It will take you about 35 mins to walk to Clichy-Batignolles, but I recommend walking the same amount of time in the other direction to Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, which is a much prettier parc - and is also open as per above.

It gets dark around 22h30 - 23h00 in the summer, and there will be lots of people out and about. Just take the normal precautions that you would anywhere else, and you will be fine.

topeater

Looks like a beautiful park. Keeping my fingers crossed for sunny weather for next week! Thanks fuzz bucket for the info.