Bona Ventura

Walking routes · Paris

Southern villages: Montsouris, Cité Florale and Butte-aux-Cailles

A walk through the 13th's small-scale streets: English-style Parc Montsouris, the flower-named lanes of the Cité Florale, the Art Nouveau pool and bars of the Butte-aux-Cailles, and Vietnamese food on avenue de Choisy.

Best time: Weekend late morning, ending with lunch in Chinatown

The route, stop by stop

  1. 1
    Parc Montsouris

    Lake and lawns, 20 min.

  2. 2
    Cité Florale

    Cottage lanes, 15 min.

    A triangle of cobbled lanes named after flowers (Glycines, Iris, Liserons) lined with small 1920s houses and gardens, next to Parc Montsouris.

  3. 3
    Piscine de la Butte-aux-Cailles

    Art Nouveau pool building and artesian well.

    1924 Art Nouveau municipal pool under a brick arch roof, fed by an artesian well; the surrounding Butte-aux-Cailles streets are full of cheap bars and street art.

  4. 4
    Rue des Cinq-Diamants

    Village bars and street art, 20 min.

  5. 5
    Phở Tài

    Pho lunch in Chinatown.

    Small family pho shop in the 13th with a clear, long-simmered beef broth, often cited as the city's best pho.

  6. 6
    Phở Bánh Cuốn 14

    Alternative lunch on avenue de Choisy.

    Busy Chinatown canteen for pho and steamed bánh cuốn rice rolls, fast and cheap.

Walking directions

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