A bucolic and artistic strollA bucolic and artistic stroll

Leave the park by rue Emile Deutsch de la Meurthe, and follow it until rue du Parc Montsouris. This is the starting point of an astonishing art and architecture stroll.

Take rue Nansouty then rue Georges Braque: at n°6, you'll see the former studio of this French artist who took part in the birth of Cubism.

At n°53 avenue Reille, you'll see a paved and sloping alleyway: it's called the Square Montsouris (not to be confused with the real meaning of "Square" in English). There're you'll find the very first Parisian work of the famous architect Le Corbusier: it was the studio of Amédée Ozenfant, a French painter from the Twentieth Century. The architecture is an example of how the designer tried to develop the Purist theory he's recognized for.

Take avenue René Coty, and then the charming rue Saint-Yves, turn on rue des Artistes then rue de l'Aude: you'll feel a provincial atmosphere. On rue Gauguet, have a look at the three studios. Then turn right on rue de la Tombe Issoire. On a lucky day, the gate at n°83 will be open and you may see an artists' housing estate. At n°101 on Tombe-Issoire, the Villa Seurat is an alleyway lined with charming houses which were home of famous tenants: Henry Miller wrote Tropic of Cancer here and lived with Anaïs Nin and Lawrence Durrell in these very premises. One of their famous neighbours was Soutine the painter.

When you reach rue d'Alésia it's time for some shopping. The street is lined with factory outlets, such as Cacharel (at n°114), and even the couture star Sonia Rykiel (at n°64). Also check Sinéquanone - a mainstream but fine French brand, or Chevignon, which has a strong reputation for easy going menswear. Then take bus 62 to Plaisance-Pernety. The area is especially lively on rue Raymond Losserand and around Pernety tube station. On rue Francis de Pressenssé, the movie theatre called L'Entrepôt is a famous spot for movie maniacs: it gathers an independant cinema, a concert hall, a bar and a restaurant. From midday to midnight it's a very nice place to be, and in the evenings you may attend a talk or a performance.

A bit North, you reach place de Séoul: the infamous Catalan architect Ricardo Bofill created its buildings in glass and pseudo-antique colonnades evocating Greece, lining a round piazza. At the centre of the piazza you'll find an amphitheatre and a rose garden. This is a daring example of a meeting between futuristic architecture and Antiquity! Behind the Piazza, the strange Notre-Dame-du-Travail Church is made of steel. Have a look at its organ, a true Art-nouveau artefact.

Take rue Vercingétorix. Its old houses were destructed, and it's now lined with studios. At n°105, the Moulin de la Vierge Bakery is famous for its excellent bread and its fine ceilings. Taste a local speciality from the French Riviera: the "Fougasse". It's a bread with anchovies and olives. If this is not enough for your lunch, then have it as an appetizer, and go to Aquarius, on rue de Gergovie. It's one of the leading vegan restaurants of Paris, serving a fresh and cheerful cuisine.

Enjoy another stroll with your nose in the air through the alleyways: take rue Didot and its peaceful townhouses, the Florimont cul-de-sac of Georges Brassens fame (Well, at least for French people - he was a rural singer.) Visit Cité Bauer, Plaisance, Pernety, rue des Thermopyles and enjoy the paved stones and flowers.

On a Saturday or a Sunday morning, you can also choose to visit the Vanves flea market. It's held at Porte de Vanves tube station, on avenue Marc Sangnier and Avenue Georges Lafenestre and gathers more than 380 dealers. Knick-knacks of all sorts, furniture, books or clothes of various prices, styles and value invade the pavement from 7AM. Come early to find the greatest deals!