Visit grand plazas for a sense of the city’s history and follow quaint side streets full of shops and restaurants.

Tree-lined boulevards, markets and children’s areas make the 11th Arrondissement ideal for family vacations. Within its boundaries are the momentous Place de la Bastille and Place de la République. Explore department stores and traditional mall galleries on charming streets leading from these main plazas.

In the western part of the arrondissement is one of Paris’ most famous spots, the Place de la Bastille. Learn about the “Storming of the Bastille,” which describes the siege of the fortress prison by rioters during the 1789 French Revolution. Gaze up at the July Column rising proudly in the centre of the square, commemorating the dramatic events of a second revolution in 1830.

Facing this large plaza is the Opera Bastille, with a modern glass design. See a ballet, symphonic orchestra or operatic performance in the 2,745-seat theatre.

Walk north along the Boulevard Richard Lenoir, which is lined with trees and small parks. Explore the weekly art market and the biweekly fruit and vegetable stalls. Continue north to the Place de la République, a huge square with a Marianne statue portraying Liberty. Read the “Liberty, Equality and Fraternity” plaque that represents France’s national motto. Snap photos of your kids running through the water mirror.

Eccentric stores and bars line the streets leading to the Oberkampf region a few blocks southeast. Visit the Cirque d’Hiver to see fascinating circus displays, concerts and intriguing activities such as wrestling and dressage. Stay in this region in the evening for the lively nightlife with crowds of young revellers at bohemian clubs.

Travel east to the Edith Piaf Museum, where the iconic singer once lived. In the home of a passionate fan, browse the clothes, objects and general memorabilia that tell her life story.

This zone lies between the Père-Lachaise Cemetery and the Seine River in northeastern Paris. Arrive via Line 9 of the metro system, which runs through the region’s centre.

The 11th Arrondissement is a mélange of traditional French values, historic squares and nightlife options.