Leely2

My cousin and I have decided to got to Paris next week, very last-minute. Pickings are slim for apartments and hotels, as one might imagine. I've found an apartment within our price range, but it is right on Place de la Republique. I know there is major renovation going on there. How bad is it--noise, unsightliness, inaccessibility?

Thanks!

Gretchen

I can't speak for exactly how it is now, but we stayed there with our family a few years ago and found it very nice--and particularly well served with transportation alternatives--metro and buses.

Cathinjoetown

Does the flat have double-glazed windows? If so, you won't hear much, if any, street noise and construction won't be going on at night.

opaldog

It is all torn up and construction is going on. I don't know about the noise as we just walked by their on our trip to Paris this past November.

Christina

I think it is horrible myself, but opinions will differ on that one. It isn't just the noise, there are barriers and I think those boards they put down to walk over some things, and the metro exits aren't all in operation the way they used to be, as I recall. So using the metro at that stop isn't as convenient. And of course it is ugly. But some things may have shifted since the last time I was there in October as to what is closed off, how much you might have to walk out of your way, etc. I'm sure it is still not attractive.

Christina

PS if you don't care about the metro exit thing and the looks of it, I don't think noise would be that big an issue. Also, some buses were rerouted around it because of that, I forgot that issue. So even the bus lines may not be running the same way. Maybe you can find out those issues on www.ratp.fr

If you just plan to walk places, no problem. I know the construction plans were until Spring 2013, but I suppose that means a lot has been done already.

They have their own website you know, with photos, see what you think.
http://www.placedelarepublique.paris.fr/

Christina

I read the current neighborhood newsletter and it sounds like they've finished a lot of the work on the East and are working on the West side now, doing a lot of laying stones and pavement. It also sounds like they are planting some trees. So I don't think it would be super noisy, but that's a guess. Not sure how the traffic rerouting is going or if that's over.
http://www.placedelarepublique.paris...ique_a5_v4.pdf

Maybe they are far enough along so metro exits are the same now. I'm pretty sure when I was there, there was one exit you couldn't use that I wanted to, but not sure, I might be remembering wrong.

I think if you really like the apt., it could be okay.

Leely2

Thanks, everyone. It's on the 6th floor so I don't think we'd be too bothered while in the apartment. However from the photos, it's on the west side. Looks like it looks out at the Crowne Plaza.

I have another option but it's considerably more expensive.

Micheline

Our friends stayed at the Crownl Plaza in October and they were very disappointed. Not with the hotel but with the location because of the construction.

Cathinjoetown

Upside: You are very close, same side of the Place, to this excellent restaurant:

www.chez-jenny.com

Christina

The Crowne Plaza is on the east side of it and it would be kind of far away, I think. It depends what the photos look like, if it is very close it couldn't be across the entire square, I wouldn't think. But if it does look far away but the Crowne Plaza is the view, it could be on the west side. It could just be to the SE of the Crowne Plaza also, and have a view of it if it is on ave Republique or bd Voltaire. This shouldn't be a secret, I insist any place I'm considering renting tell me their address. It is very important for lots of reasons to find out exactly where a place is and what kind of buildings are next to it, (or below it), etc.

If I were choosing a hotel I would definitely not choose one right on a square undergoing massive construction, either. This is a very large square.

Michael

<i>However from the photos, it's on the west side. Looks like it looks out at the Crowne Plaza.
</i>

Presumably you have the address of the apartment. Google map the address and you will known its exact location.

Leely2

Yes, it's the building smack between Bd Voltaire and ave Republique. The apartment itself faces ave Republique-- at an angle of course. I do really like that area, but we have now been offered a last-minute deal for a bigger apartment in the 4th (a little too central for my taste, but we leave on Tuesday so I need to nail this down quickly). We'll probably take the larger one in tourist central rather than risk noise/blight on Place de la Republique.

Michael

So it's on the east side of the Place de la République, right above or next door to Léon de Bruxelles.

kerouac

Most of the paving has now been completed, but the square will not be ready until spring. I would consider it to be an extremely minor inconvenience in an area that I think is excellent -- near the Canal Saint Martin, Oberkampf, the Marais, Bastille, the Grands Boulevards -- you get much more real Paris around there and not the Disneyfied parts along the Seine.

DebitNM

Dont know if they are available, but email and ask Sylvain:

http://www.vrbo.com/371220

http://www.vrbo.com/339804

Leely2

I agree that Place de la Republique is an excellent area--especially for my younger cousin who is a punky drummer. But in the end it was the great deal we were offered elsewhere that was the deciding factor.

Thanks again for all the helpful replies and suggestions. I appreciate them!

In case anyone is wondering, this is the apartment we were considering:
http://www.residences-paris.com/voltaire.php

Christina

oh, well that was very clear where it was, which wasn't the west side of the place. The name alone gives it away, but they also had a map. It was right next to the Crowne Plaze, just south of it, on the SE corner of the place. That was a pretty small apt. and had that thing they do in a lot of cheap Paris apts where they put in a "loft" which wasn't there originally, or just a platform they stick a bed on. So I don't think it was that great, anyway.

elsiejune

Enjoy Paris next week Leely! I had a spur of the moment trip in September, and a good time was had by all.....in an area that we normally wouldn't have chosen either. Bon voyage, EJ

kerouac

Even though it is no longer relevant, I passed through Place de la République today and saw that it is beginning to look very nice with the renovation -- but it is still all fenced off and will remain that way until March.