Lotus Pad Know-How & Local Tips
Neighborhoods
Gagny is my municipality. It's gentrifying rapidly and the shops reflect that. New organic stores are popping up among the old guard. There are two main shopping areas in Gagny – around the station, along Av. Jean Jaurès. Loads of smaller markets, hardware stores, bakeries, electronics stores, clothing shops etc. Then the more village atmosphere around Rue Henri Maillard opposite the town hall area. Here you will find Monoprix plus the post office, banks, bakeries, doctors, dentists and radiologists. It is a 10 minute walk down the hill. What is missing still is cozy cafes and restaurants - there are more of those in Le Raincy.
6 abantu bendawo batusa
Gagny
Gagny is my municipality. It's gentrifying rapidly and the shops reflect that. New organic stores are popping up among the old guard. There are two main shopping areas in Gagny – around the station, along Av. Jean Jaurès. Loads of smaller markets, hardware stores, bakeries, electronics stores, clothing shops etc. Then the more village atmosphere around Rue Henri Maillard opposite the town hall area. Here you will find Monoprix plus the post office, banks, bakeries, doctors, dentists and radiologists. It is a 10 minute walk down the hill. What is missing still is cozy cafes and restaurants - there are more of those in Le Raincy.
Le Raincy is chic-ville. It is a very upmarket and dapper little place. With a bustling village life too. Most of that revolves around the shops, restaurants, boutiques and bistros on Avenue de la Resistance. The long shop-lined stitch runs for over a mile between the Gare/station and the top of town. Because I live on a plateau, you can either arrive at the station end or the top of the avenue, depending on whether you walk down Boulevard du Midi or Avenue Thiers. Both start from the Rond Point de Montfermeil. There are many other approaches by smaller streets and alleyways in between.
Le Raincy
Le Raincy is chic-ville. It is a very upmarket and dapper little place. With a bustling village life too. Most of that revolves around the shops, restaurants, boutiques and bistros on Avenue de la Resistance. The long shop-lined stitch runs for over a mile between the Gare/station and the top of town. Because I live on a plateau, you can either arrive at the station end or the top of the avenue, depending on whether you walk down Boulevard du Midi or Avenue Thiers. Both start from the Rond Point de Montfermeil. There are many other approaches by smaller streets and alleyways in between.
This is a mini-neighbourhood getting more lively all the time. I love it for handy grocery shopping. There are not the 'primeurs' fruit and veg shops of Gagny and Le Raincy, but it's cosy and convenient. A new trendy looking shop just popped up here – of produce 'des terroirs'. Here you will also find Nicolas, the wine shop and La P'tite Cave in one of the off-streets.
Rond-Point de Montfermeil
Rond-Point de MontfermeilThis is a mini-neighbourhood getting more lively all the time. I love it for handy grocery shopping. There are not the 'primeurs' fruit and veg shops of Gagny and Le Raincy, but it's cosy and convenient. A new trendy looking shop just popped up here – of produce 'des terroirs'. Here you will also find Nicolas, the wine shop and La P'tite Cave in one of the off-streets.
Gardens & Nature
This park is just a 5 minute walk from me. It's one of several 'green spaces' in my area. It has exercise/fitness equipment and is a place of calm for strolling and picnics. I walk through here on my way to the station. For children, there is a small animal park with farm animals.
Parc Courbet
26 Chem. des BourdonsThis park is just a 5 minute walk from me. It's one of several 'green spaces' in my area. It has exercise/fitness equipment and is a place of calm for strolling and picnics. I walk through here on my way to the station. For children, there is a small animal park with farm animals.
The Allée de la Dhuys is a green walkway following the path of an ancient Roman above ground aqueduct. It was channeled into an underground aqueduct in 1863 in order to source water from Paris to the suburbs. The stretch passes behind my place and runs in both directions towards Le Raincy - and towards Clichy-sous-Bois and the forests beyond. Actually it continues for 131km to the town of Meaux. Today its water supplies
Its role was to bring water to Paris from 1865. From now on, its 131 kilometers are only used to supply Disney Paris. Donald Duck's thirsty! One of my favourite places for a stroll, it's also a cycling stretch, of which there are still not enough locally.
Allée de la Dhuys
Allée de la DhuysThe Allée de la Dhuys is a green walkway following the path of an ancient Roman above ground aqueduct. It was channeled into an underground aqueduct in 1863 in order to source water from Paris to the suburbs. The stretch passes behind my place and runs in both directions towards Le Raincy - and towards Clichy-sous-Bois and the forests beyond. Actually it continues for 131km to the town of Meaux. Today its water supplies
Its role was to bring water to Paris from 1865. From now on, its 131 kilometers are only used to supply Disney Paris. Donald Duck's thirsty! One of my favourite places for a stroll, it's also a cycling stretch, of which there are still not enough locally.
To Market
Commonly known as the Marché des Bosquets (after the big migrant city here), this wonderful maghrébin marketplace (northern African, Moroccan, Tunisian, Algerian migrants) is held twice a week, Wednesday and Saturday from dawn until about 1pm.
Le marché Anatole-France
Allée Anatole FranceCommonly known as the Marché des Bosquets (after the big migrant city here), this wonderful maghrébin marketplace (northern African, Moroccan, Tunisian, Algerian migrants) is held twice a week, Wednesday and Saturday from dawn until about 1pm.
Izeluleko zedolobha
Ukuzulazula
Walk locally, RER to/from Paris
To get to Paris, you can leave from Gagny RER station or Le Raincy/Villemomble RER. The first is about 15 minutes walk from the Lotus Pad, the second 20 minutes.
Bus no 604 or 623 go to Gagny train station from Allée Gay, which is 3 minutes walk from my place. Both are marked Gare de Gagny.
To return, you can again hop on bus no. 604 (Hôpital de Montfermeil T4). It comes up the other side of the plateau on the way home. Ride 4 stops to Cimitiere, and walk 5 minutes to my place.
Buses time in with most trains.
Ukuzulazula
I like to return via Le Raincy RER either by foot or bus
I particularly like to return from Paris to Le Raincy. Sometimes I have a shop around there first before either walking back (20 minutes) or, hopping on a bus if pooped.
Take the 602 (Hôpital de Montermeil) or 603 (Corot) and ride 4 stops to the Rond Point de Montfermeil (It's a big roundabout – and one of my local shopping places). From there, it's just 800 meters walk on the flat to my place via Allee du Telegraphe. Getting off here is handy if you want to go to the bakery, supermarket (Carrefour), pharmacy or wine shop on the way back. I often do.