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The 10th arrondissement feels like the centre of everything. People spill into the streets from the Gare du Nord station, one of the busiest rail terminals in the world, and mingle into a melting pot of old Paris, new Paris, and cultural offerings from around the world. The district also features an intriguing museum of handheld fans, a delightful art nouveau restaurant, and the authentic Paris picnic spot: the Canal Saint-Martin.  The Earful Tower podcast episode This podcast episode on the 10th district of Paris includes an interview with Nico Alary who runs the ever-popular Holybelly restaurants, and Alex Toledano, the art consultant who literally wrote the book on the 10th… and our final ranking on the district out of 100.  Video guide to the 10th arrondissement We’ll share our visit, in video format, on our YouTube channel in the coming days. We’ll be making one of these travel vlogs every week, so be sure to subscribe (you can do it in one click via this link).  The Earful Tower’s guide to the 11th arrondissement Restaurants: Bouillon Julien @bouillinjulienparis  Address: 16 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis, 75010 Holybelly @holybellycafe  Address: 5 Rue Lucien Sampaix, 75010 Bakeries: Du Pain et des Idées @dupainetdesidees Address: 34 Rue Yves Toudic, 75010  Sain Boulangerie @sain_boulangerie  Address: 15 Rue Marie et Louise, 75010 DonAntónia Pastelaria @donantonia_pastelaria Address: 8 Rue de la Grange aux Belles, 75010 Drinks/Bars: Le Syndicat @lesyndicat  Address: 51 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis, 75010 Chez Jeanette @chezjeannette  Address: 47 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis, 75010 Divine @bar_divine  Address: 61 Rue d'Hauteville, 75010 Coffee: Ten Belles - Paris 10 @tenbelles Address: 10 Rue de la Grange aux Belles, 75010 More things to find in the 10th: Explore the canal area, have a picnic. Canal Saint Martin Musée de l'Éventail (Fan Museum) @museedeleventail  Address: 2 Bd de Strasbourg, 75010 Porte Saint-Denis Address: Boulevard St Denis, 75010 Porte Saint Martin Address: 18 Bd Saint-Martin, 75010 Music: A Pres Maxson version of "Canal Saint Martin" by Maria Remusat.

The 11th arrondissement is undoubtedly the cool part of town. Some call it the trendiest Paris district. It’s where you might find an eco-friendly garden hotel, a 1920s themed speakeasy bar, and a restaurant that’s so cool you can’t even find its name on the facade. We found all those places, plus took a more traditional exploration through the old alleyways that were once thriving artisanal passages. Here’s everything we discovered during our 24 hours in the 11th arrondissement. This podcast episode on the 11th district of Paris includes an interview with Guy Griffin from Cafe Mericourt and our final ranking on the district out of 100.  Video guide to the 11th arrondissement We’ll share our visit, in video format, on our YouTube channel in the coming days. We’ll be making one of these travel vlogs every week, so be sure to subscribe (you can do it in one click via this link).  The Earful Tower’s guide to the 11th arrondissement Where to stay? Eden Lodge: This hotel offers eco-friendly and sustainable living at the back of a miraculously quiet and green garden. If you need some zen-like escape from the bustle of Paris, this is the place for you. Our room had a large balcony and a very comfortable bed, the breakfast was lovely, and the common rooms were tastefully designed. Cat lovers: There are at least two wondering around this hotel and they’re very friendly. @edenlodgeparis  Address: 175 Rue de Charonne, 75011 The best cafe Cafe Mericourt: There are loads of cafes in this neighbourhood but none match Cafe Mericourt, run by Guy Griffin. This place is an Earful Tower favourite, we have been coming here since before it opened. In fact, one of the first ever live videos was Guy showing us the facade of this cafe the same day he got the keys to it five years ago. Killer coffee and brunch options in a beautiful setting. @cafemericourt Address: 22 Rue de la Folie Méricourt, 75011 The best restaurants Chambre Noir: This is the place that didn’t have a name on the facade. We didn’t even know if we’d come to the right place, but hipster whispers by the Canal Saint-Martin had insisted this was the place for dinner. A large wine menu and tapas for dinner, try the cheesy asparagus for a good time. @chambrenoireparis Address: 137, Rue Saint-Maur, 75011 Best place for a drink Mobster Bar: We love a good gimmick and this one was fun. Pick up the phone out the front of this 1920s themed bar and a voice will ask you a prohibition-themed trivia question. You’ll have to type the correct combination into the keypad to get in, where you’ll be met with smartly dressed bartenders serving cocktails to customers in darkened rooms. @mobster_bar Address: 8 Rue de Crussol, 75011 More things to find in the 11th arrondissement Ateliers des Lumières: Opened in 2018, this is one of the newest museums in Paris and it’s well worth a visit. You can see classical works of art from the likes of Dali, Van Gogh and Cezanne projected on the expansive industrial museum walls . You’ve not experienced a museum like this before! @ateliersdeslumieres Address: 38 Rue Saint-Maur, 75011 Marché Bastille Every arrondissement in Paris has its own market – and often more than one at that. But, the Bastille market has something special about it, whether you’re interested in purchasing some produce, or just want to soak up the atmosphere, it’s the ideal market. Our advice: start at the end furthest from the Bastille, the quality is better this side. Open Thursdays and Sundays 8:30AM – 1:30PM. Address: 2018 Bd Richard-Lenoir, 75011 Explore the hidden passageways of the 11th arrondissement The 11th is full of old alleyways which were once teeming with artisans. Furniture makers, frame fixers, handymen and more. Nowadays, the passages are still there, but it’s often residents or office workers inside the buildings. If you know where to look, you’ll find stunning oases of calm and sometimes an artisan from today plying their trade. A good one to start at is Passage de l’Homme… but we visited about ten of them, and we’ll share our full findings and many more pictures in the coming days on this site. That will do for now! I hope you enjoyed episode ten for this new season.  A big thanks to Augusta Sagnelli for the photos, Charlotte Pleasants for the additional reporting, and to the Patreon members who make all this possible. Join them here.

It's the Paris Countdown! Here comes an-depth guide to the 12th arrondissement of Paris after we spent 24 hours there. The blog post is here with all the pictures.  A big thank you to the Patreon supporters, without whom we wouldn't be making this season. Join them here. Music: A Pres Maxson interpretation of Plus Bleu Que Tes Yeux (A Blue Like the Blue of Your Eyes) by Charles Aznavour Below are all the places we mentioned. Where to stay? Mk2 Hotel Paradiso @mk2hotelparadiso  Address: 135 Bd Diderot, 75012 The best restaurants Le Train Bleu @restaurantletrainbleu  Address: Pl. Louis-Armand, 75012 Ground control Address: 81 Rue du Charolais, 75012 Best place for a drink Le Baron Rouge Address: 1 Rue Théophile Roussel, 75012 Le Calbar @lecalbar  Address: 82 Rue de Charenton, 75012 lads in their undies The Best Cafe Cafe CC @cafecc_paris  Address: 6 Rue Théophile Roussel, 75012 Paris Curiosity: The fairground museum Musée des Arts Forains @museedesartsforains  Address: 53 Av. des Terroirs de France, 75012 More things to find Marché d’Aligre Promenade Plantée Bois de Vincennes Jardin du Bassin de l’Arsenal - Charming beginning of the canal, lovely spot for a picnic, a stroll, or entertain the kids in the play areas.  Opera Bastille That's it for this week, back with the 11th arrondissement on Monday.

It's the Paris Countdown! Here comes an-depth guide to the 13th arrondissement of Paris after we spent 24 hours there. The blog post is here with all the pictures.  A big thank you to the Patreon supporters, without whom we wouldn't be making this season. Join them here. Music: A Pres Maxson interpretation of La mer, by Charles Trenet. Below are all the places we mentioned. Where to stay? / An unusual hotel OFF Paris Seine Address: 86 Quai d'Austerlitz, 75013 @offparisseine The best restaurants Eat in Chinatown:  Impérial Choisy @imperialchoisy Address: 32 Av. de Choisy, 75013 Best place for a drink Evening drink on a boat Bateau El Alamein @bateauelalamein  Address: 10 Port de la Gare, 75013 Terrace drink: Les Tanneurs de la Butte @lestanneursdelabutte Address: 22 Rue de la Butte aux Cailles, 75013 The best cafe Bob’s Cafe in MK2 Bibliothèque Address: MK2 Bibliothèque, 128-162 Av. de France, 75013 More things to find Stroll through the Butte-aux-Cailles Visit the antique map shop Librairie Loeb Larocque - maps & books @librarie.loeb.larocque  Address: 31 Rue de Tolbiac, 75013 Track down traces of the Bievre river Find the magnificent globes François-Mitterrand Library - The Globes of Coronelli or Globes of Marly are a pair of globes (terrestrial and celestial) of large size (about 4 meters in diameter) made by Vincenzo Coronelli and offered to Louis XIV at the end of the 17th century. Address: Quai François Mauriac, 75706

It's the Paris Countdown! Here comes an-depth guide to the 14th arrondissement of Paris after we spent 24 hours there. The blog post is here with all the pictures.  A big thank you to the Patreon supporters, without whom we wouldn't be making this season. Join them here. Music: A Pres Maxson interpretation of Le poinçonneur des Lilas, by Serge Gainsbourg. Below are all the places we mentioned. Where to stay? Hotel Cabane @hotelcabane Address: 76 Rue Raymond Losserand, 75014 Great eateries: La Belle Ronde Address: 19 Rue Daguerre, 75014 Paris Le Dôme @ledomemontparnasse Address: 108 Bd du Montparnasse, 75014 Land & Monkeys Address: 85 Rue Raymond Losserand, 75014 Best places for a drink Le Tournesol @cafetournesol Address: 9 Rue de la Gaité, 75014 Rosebud. Address: 11 Rue Delambre, 75014 La Coupole @la_coupole_paris Address: 102 Bd du Montparnasse, 75014 The best cafe Hexagone Café @hexagonecafe Address: 121 Rue du Château, 75014 Things to find Église Notre-Dame-du-Travail Address: 59 Rue Vercingétorix, 75014 Comédie-Italienne Address: 17 Rue de la Gaité, 75014 Montparnasse Cemetery Address: 3 Bd Edgar Quinet, 75014 Musée de la Libération de Paris Address: 4 Av. du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy, 75014 The Catacombs of Paris Address: 1 Av. du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy, 75014 Rue des Thermopyles Aussi curiosity shop Address: 119 Rue du Château, 75014 Vanves Flea market Address: 5 Av. de la Porte de Vanves, 75014 Stroll: Rue de la Gaîté 

It's Season 12 of The Earful Tower, The Paris Countdown: Here comes an-depth guide to the Paris arrondissements after we've spent 24 hours in each of them. This week it's the 15th arrondissement of Paris. The blog post is here with all the pictures. A big thank you to the Patreon supporters, without whom we wouldn't be making this season. Join them here. Music: A Pres Maxson interpretation of Le vent nous portera, by Noir Désir. Below are all the places we mentioned.  Where to stay? Relais 12bis Address: 12 Bis Rue Desaix, 75015 The best restaurants Cafe du Commerce @lecafeducommerce.1921 Address: 51 Rue du Commerce, 75015   Best place for a drink Le Ciel de Paris RestaurantAddress: Tour Maine Montparnasse, 56ème, Av. du Maine, 75015 The best cafe Good News Coffee Shop @good_news_coffeeshop  Address: 27 bis Rue Mademoiselle, 75015 Paris   More things to find in the 15th Poilâne Tour Eiffel @poilane  Address: 49 Bd de Grenelle, 75015 Île aux Cygnes Address: Île aux Cygnes, 75015 Ballon de Paris Address: Parc André Citroën, 75015 Musée Bourdelle Address: 18 Rue Antoine Bourdelle, 75015   Additional: Parc Georges Brassens Address: 2 Pl. Jacques Marette, 75015 Paris La Ruche  Address: 2 Pass. de Dantzig, 75015 Paris

It's Season 12 of The Earful Tower, The Paris Countdown: Here comes an-depth guide to the Paris arrondissements after we've spent 24 hours in each of them. This week it's the 16th arrondissement of Paris. The YouTube video that goes with this episode will be here, and the blog post is here with all the pictures. A big thank you to the Patreon supporters, without whom we wouldn't be making this season. Join them here. Below are all the places we mentioned.  Where did we stay? Sourire Hotel @souriredepassy Address: 29 Rue des Marronniers, 75016  The best restaurants Andia @andia_paris  Address: 19 Chau. de la Muette, 75016 Paris La Rotonde @larotondedelamuette  Address: 12 Chau. de la Muette, 75016 Paris Best place for a drink Cravan bar @cravanparis Address: 17 Rue Jean de la Fontaine, 75016 Paris Shangri-La @shangrilaparis Address: 10 Av. d'Iéna, 75116 Paris The best cafe Coutume Passy @coutumecafeAddress: 78 Rue de Passy, 75016 Paris More things to find in the 16th Maison de Balzac Address: 47 Rue Raynouard, 75016 Paris  Palais de Tokyo  Address: 13 Av. du Président Wilson, 75116 Paris @palaisdetokyo Musée du Vin Address: 5 Sq. Charles Dickens, 75016 Paris Musée Clemenceau Address: 8 Rue Benjamin Franklin, 75116 Hunt for Hector. Spend an afternoon finding all the buildings in the district designed by “the pope of art nouveau” Hector Guimard. Music: Pres Maxson's interpretation of "Douce France", by Charles Trenet.

It's Season 12 of The Earful Tower, The Paris Countdown: Here comes an-depth guide to the Paris arrondissements after we've spent 24 hours in each of them. This week it's the 17th arrondissement of Paris. The YouTube video that goes with this episode will be here, and the blog post will be here with all the pictures. A big thank you to the Patreon supporters, without whom we wouldn't be making this season. Join them here. Below are all the places we mentioned.  Where we stayed Villa Alessandra @villa_alessandra_paris Address: 9 Pl. Boulnois, 75017 Paris The restaurants Le Dada @ledada_paris Address: 12 Av. des Ternes, 75017  Mamma Primi @bigmammagroup Address: 18 Rue Boursault, 75017 Paris Where we had a drink L’Ambre Bar @ambrebar Address:  29 Rue Brunel, 75017 Paris Les Caves Populaire @lescavespopulaires Address: 22 Rue des Dames, 75017 Paris The cafe Dose Café @dose.paris Address: 82 Place du Dr Félix Lobligeois, 75017 Paris More things to find in the 17th Cité de l’Économie money museum Address: 1 Pl. du Général Catroux, 75017 Paris Boulevard Pereire park for a walk or cycle Square des Batignolles Address: 144 bis Rue Cardinet, 75017 Paris 

It's Season 12 of The Earful Tower, The Paris Countdown: Here comes an-depth guide to the Paris arrondissements after we've spent 24 hours in each of them.  This week it's the 18th arrondissement, with a strong focus on Montmartre. The YouTube video that goes with this episode will be here, and the blog post will be here with all the pictures. A big thank you to the Patreon supporters, without whom we wouldn't be making this season. Join them here. Below are all the places we mentioned.  All the details: Hotel:Terrass” Hotel Address: 12-14 Rue Joseph de Maistre, 75018 @terrasshotel Sites: Place du Tertre (artists' square)Address:  Pl. du Tertre, 75018 Paris Restaurant: Le Moulin de la Galette @lemoulindelagaletteofficiel Address: 83 Rue Lepic, 75018 Paris Drinks: Terrass Rooftop Bar Address: 12 Rue Joseph de Maistre, 75018 Paris Chez Camille@bar_chez_camille  Address: 8 Rue Ravignan, 75018 Paris Coffee shops: La Main Noire @la.main.noire Address: 12 Rue Cavallotti, 75018 Paris Les 5 Marches @les.5.marches Address: 12 Rue Girardon, 75018 Paris  

It's Season 12 of The Earful Tower, The Paris Countdown: Here comes an-depth guide to the Paris arrondissements after we've spent 24 hours in each of them.  This week it's the 19th arrondissement, with a strong focus on the canals that run through the neighbourhood. The YouTube video that goes with this episode will be here, and the blog post will be here with all the pictures. A big thank you to the Patreon supporters, without whom we wouldn't be making this season. Join them here. Below are all the places we mentioned.  Hotel: Holiday Inn Express Paris - Canal de la Villette 68 Quai de la Seine, 75019 Lunch: Paname Brewing Company 41 bis Quai de la Loire, 75019 Instagram  Sites: Philharmonie de Paris  221 Av. Jean Jaurès, 75019 Instagram  Curiosities: Péniche L'Eau Et Les Rêves (Péniche Librairie) 9 Quai de l'Oise, 75019 Instagram  Lunch: La Rotonde Stalingrad 6-8 Pl. de la Bataille de Stalingrad, 75019 Instagram  Drinks: Péniche Antipode - Abricadabra 55 Quai de la Seine, 75019 Instagram  Café Mama Kin Address: 13 Rue de Thionville, 75019  @cafe.mamakin  Coffee shops: Le Pavillon des Canaux 39 Quai de la Loire, 75019 Instagram  Kaffebar 19  26B Rue de l'Ourcq, 75019 Instagram

Here we are: Season 12, The Paris Countdown. For the next 20 weeks, you'll be hearing an in-depth guide to the Paris arrondissements after we've spent 24 hours in each of them.  We're starting at the 20th arrondissement, with a strong focus on Edith Piaf.  The YouTube video that goes with this episode is here, and here is the blog post with all the pictures. A big thank you to the Patreon supporters, without whom we wouldn't be making this season. Join them here. Below are all the places we mentioned.  Hotel:  Babel Belleville 3 Rue Lemon, 75020 Lunch:  Peppe Pizzeria  2 Pl. Saint-Blaise, 75020 Paris Sites: Campagne à Paris 210 Rue des Pyrénées, 75020 Paris Père-Lachaise Cemetery 16 Rue du Repos, 75020 Paris Edith Piaf’s birthplace 72 Rue de Belleville Market: Boulevard de Belleville, Tuesdays and Fridays Dinner and Edith singing: Le Vieux Belleville 12 Rue des Envierges, 75020 Drink: Aux Folies  8 Rue de Belleville, 75020 Paris Coffee shop:  The Dancing Goat 117 Av. Gambetta, 75020 Paris Street art street: Rue du Retrait 

Next week the new season of The Earful Tower begins. Here's what you can expect :) Become a member here on Patreon.

Here's the story of how Lina and I got our two childen's books in the gift shop of the Louvre Museum.  To become a Patreon member of The Earful Tower, click here. You can find our books all over Paris, or buy them directly from our online shop here. 

Are Parisian men all well-dressed? Or is it a myth? And while we're at it, what should YOU wear on your visit to Paris?  All these questions and much more are answered this week by Frenchman Fabien Renault, the managing director France's arm of the luxury fashion company Joseph.  And the idiot in this show, of course, is me. Enjoy the episode and subscribe for more of the same every single week.

My father-in-law Jakob is on the show, recounting the tale of how he got VIP treatment at a Paris fashion house in the 1980s.  It's part of a bigger theme of 'My First Trip To Paris' that Patreon members have been sharing, join them here. Mentioned in this episode: Charles Aznavour songs: Non je n'ai rien oublié and Emmenez moi The song played in the intro and outro was Sous le ciel de Paris.  And the fashion house was Carven, which still exists at 6 Rdpt des Champs-Élysées Marcel-Dassault, 75008. See you next week with another new episode. 

Do you want a peek behind the scenes of artist life on the Left Bank of Paris?  Well it's your lucky day! Today on the podcast it's renowned artist Alex Hillkurtz, who shares a little about his method, from inside his Left Bank chambre de bonne studio. I first met Alex when his work was on exhibit at the Orangerie in the Luxembourg Gardens and I'm already planning my visit to see his work in the Grand Palais this year. You can find more about Alex on his website here, in advance, or join his nearly 100,000 Instagram followers here.  If you're a Patreon member, I hope you've already seen our tour of his workplace and his view over the sixth arrondissement of Paris. If not, watch the replay by signing up here.

IT'S BACK!  Today's guest is the reigning champ of The Earful Tower Bucket List, Shelly. She is a Paris art consultant, a personal friend of mine, and has her finger firmly on the pulse of things to do in Paris.  We share our top five things to do this year in Paris. Why not write your own list and join us? The full list will be on the website later today: www.theearfultower.com

My Dad worked on Paris peniche, moored on the Seine, in 1976.  I didn't know much about the story, so asked him how it came to be. His tale included hitch-hiking, thievery, a police station in Arles, and finally a boat in Paris.  Here it is in full :) This episode, and all the others, were brought to you thanks to the Patreon members. Join them here.

Oliver looks back at the most popular episodes of 2021 in a countdown of the top five top episodes of the year. Below are links to the episodes that made the cut: https://theearfultower.com/2021/08/31/ten-tourist-mistakes-to-avoid-in-paris/ https://theearfultower.com/2021/02/08/a-guide-to-the-french-tradition-of-the-apero/ https://theearfultower.com/2021/01/04/paris-bucket-list-2021-ten-fun-things-i-want-to-do/ https://theearfultower.com/2021/09/20/an-idiots-guide-to-fashion-in-paris/ https://theearfultower.com/2021/07/02/paris-on-air-heres-my-audio-book-for-free/  

Lina and Oliver share their stories of how Paris landed on their radars. What's your own version? Leave a comment on social media! Become a Patreon supporter of The Earful Tower here.