Considered as one of the oldest roads in Paris, Rue du Faubourg-Saint-Antoine, located on the cusp between the 11th and 12th arrondissements, runs from Place de la Bastille to Place de la Nation. It is named after the old Abbey of St Anthony (Saint-Antoine) that stood not far from there until the 18th century. A major trading centre since the Middle Ages, for a long time this district has been home to woodwork-related trades, with a particularly high number of cabinet-makers for which the area was famous, although there are fewer of these nowadays.
Along Rue du Faubourg-Saint-Antoine, there is a series of picturesque courtyards and passages, like the Cour de l'Étoile-d'Or, Cour des Trois-Frères, Cour de la Maison-Brûlée, Cour de l'Ours (literally meaning "Bear Courtyard", named after a bear sculpture on the street side façade), Cour du Bel-Air (named after an old mansion), Passage du Chantier with its furniture dealers, Passage Lhomme with its pastoral character, and Passage de la Bonne-Graine, which was once a centre for the grain trade. Some charming places to explore on a stroll!