RUE CLER
A slice of real life in everyday Paris
A travel article by Pierre Mainguené, Circa Tours
For total immersion in the local Parisian culture, Rue Cler is one of my favorite places. Located in the quiet 7th district, between The Hotel des Invalides (Napoleon's tomb) and the Champs de Mars, it is an easy stroll to the Eiffel Tower. This typical neighborhood street is full of shops and restaurants where local Parisians do their shopping and eat out. It is traffic-free and offers a succession of tiny stores where you can find everything for your daily sustenance.
Take a look at a few pictures I took ...
A "boulangerie" (bakery): Racks full of "baguettes," "petit pains," all sorts of crusty golden breads, tarts, pastries and other tasty desserts.
At the corner of Rue du Champ de Mars, a small neighborhood grocery store with everything you need: meat, wine, fruit, you name it... its name is Leader Price (not very French-sounding, I agree).
A "fromagerie" (cheese shop). A long, narrow canopied cheese table set up outside the shop brings the inside into the street. Cheeses of all sizes are on display and are waiting to be taken away to your dinner table: round ones, moldy ones, wedges, balls, others the shape of hockey pucks or stubby little cylinders. Fermented milk heaven!
"Le Repaire de Bacchus", a wine shop with the finest France has to offer... Good wines and good prices! and, next door, "la Maison du jambon" which sells appetizing prepared dishes, delicious hams and other deli meats to go, with a different "plat du jour" every day.
"Miel et Nature," a specialty store selling honey and natural foods and, across the street, "Les Halles Bosquet," with fresh fruit and vegetables delivered every day from Paris' huge wholesale market in Rungis.
And of course, people sitting outside the many cafes, brasseries and restaurants, either chatting the day away, reading the paper, or drinking "biere pression" or "cafe espresso."
To all of the above, add a flower shop, a fresh fish and seafood stand, a kitchen utensil store, a pharmacy, a phone store, a bank, and a post office at one end of the street.
Also notice the lady pulling a little trolley cart in one of the pictures. This is her shopping bag. How convenient! (Parisians shop for food most every day.)
Rue Cler and the surrounding area is replete with quaint, charming hotels. The central location is absolutely ideal and the neighborhood is friendly and welcoming. It is a vibrant slice of Parisian life. If you are looking for authenticity, this is the place.
Be careful, though, you might never want to leave!
Circa Tours is a division of Circa Terras, Inc.
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