{"id":3393,"date":"2012-05-12T18:57:17","date_gmt":"2012-05-12T16:57:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.colleensparis.com\/blog\/?p=3393"},"modified":"2020-04-21T17:05:21","modified_gmt":"2020-04-21T15:05:21","slug":"paris-toilets-free-and-clean-stylish-or-standard","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging-wptechsupport.com\/colleensparis\/2012\/05\/paris-toilets-free-and-clean-stylish-or-standard\/","title":{"rendered":"Paris Toilets – Free and Clean, Stylish or Standard"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Paris<\/a><\/p>\n

A variety of toilets await you in Paris ranging from the free automatic cleaning type, a luxurious designer pay toilet worth the 1.50 euro price, or your standard. In the standard you always have to hope you will find soap in the dispenser! Bring your own just in case.<\/p>\n

Free and Clean<\/strong>
\nPatrick Jouin<\/a><\/strong> designs for practical usage with a woman in mind. When he designed Paris\u2019 sanisettes<\/em> (automatic public toilets located along sidewalks) it was to make them accessible to the handicap, of course. He designed them for women as well.<\/p>\n

Patrick Jouin is one of my favorite designers for his practicality and style: Velib\u2019 stations, 58Tour Eiffel restaurant, Galeries Lafayette shoe department, Jules Verne restaurant, etc.<\/p>\n

\"Paris<\/a><\/p>\n

One day, while listening to a radio interview, I was struck by his understanding that women do not like tight spaces. He could have said that women do not want to see or smell mold, discolored corners and grime in a bathroom or WC.\u00a0 Welcome to one example of Paris\u2019 idea of the clean toilet.<\/p>\n

Since 2010 JC Decaux operates about 400 automatic toilets of these free toilets around Paris. The Paris Mayor\u2019s Office Web site provides an entire list. (Paris.fr Web site – click on \u201cListe des Sanisettes<\/strong> par Arrondissement) .<\/p>\n

\"Paris<\/a><\/p>\n

Sanisettes have proven helpful to me around the Eiffel Tower (one in front of the tower and one located at the RER C exit) and while running to the doctor\u2019s office (next to the Honor\u00e9 de Balzac statute — literary inspiration?). Other times, I wished that I had the list with me! Plan to use them between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.<\/strong><\/p>\n

About the\u00a0sanisettes<\/em><\/strong>
\n\u201cA manually operated emergency exit, which can be opened by firefighters, for example, is accessible from the outside. Emergency lighting and a fire extinguisher have been installed to optimize safety. Comfort has also been enhanced. The doors open and close automatically and the toilets are heated in winter and equipped with coat hangers, a mirror, a washbasin and even background music. In a move towards sustainable development, the new automatic toilet uses 30% less water than the previous model. The lighting is natural \u2013 it is supplied by a well of light placed on the roof. It is equipped with a motion sensor and therefore only works when the toilet is occupied. The entire electricity supply comes from renewable energy sources (wind, solar, hydraulic and biomass).\u201d<\/em> — Paris Convention and Tourist Bureau<\/p>\n

In addition, an automated voice instructs when the door is closing and whether to use the light or the heavy flush. It is not always easy to understand. (Gallery of photos below)<\/p>\n

Parks, Gardens and Public Areas<\/strong>
\nIn 95 of Paris\u2019 parks and gardens, you will find free toilets during opening times (they close either at sunset or dusk). The public toilets found near or in metro stations, shops and tourist areas are also free. They are \u201cmanned\u201d by a \u201cDame pipi\u201d. A small tip (20-50 cents) is appreciated but not required.<\/p>\n

The opening times are 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. One example is the much advertised Madeleine, built in 1905 Art Nouveau style with its ceramic walls, wood doors and stained glass.<\/p>\n

Madeleine<\/strong>
\nPlace de la Madeleine, Paris 8th
\nFacing the Madeleine Church, go toward the metro sign (right) and take the stairway<\/p>\n

For the Handicap<\/strong>
\nThe automatic toilets (sanisettes) are accessible to disabled people — wide enough for a wheelchair and equipped with a grab bar, recorded instructions and signage in Braille.<\/p>\n

Disabled facilities in Paris parks<\/strong>
\nJardin de l\u2019Intendant, 53 boulevard de la Tour-Maubourg, Paris 7th (near the Invalides hospital)
\nParc du Champ-de-Mars, 2 all\u00e9e Adrienne Lecouvreur, Paris 7th
\nJardin des Champs-\u00c9lys\u00e9es (toilets accessible from the Th\u00e9\u00e2tre Renaud-Barrault), 10 avenue des Champs-\u00c9lys\u00e9es, Paris 8th
\nParc de Bagatelle, Route de S\u00e8vres \u00e0 Neuilly, Paris 16th
\nParc Monceau, 35 boulevard de Courcelles, Paris 8th<\/p>\n

RATP\/RER accessible toilets since 2010<\/strong>
\nMetro line 14 (Olympiades and Biblioth\u00e8que-Fran\u00e7ois-Mitterrand stations)
\nMetro line13 (Argenteuil)
\nMetro line 7 (Villejuif-Louis-Aragon).<\/p>\n

On the R\u00e9seau Express R\u00e9gional (RER) train network, 25 toilets have been renovated, including seven in Paris, at the following stations: Charles-de-Gaulle-\u00c9toile (Salle Friedland), Auber, Ch\u00e2telet (2 new toilets), Gare de Lyon, Nation and Luxembourg.<\/p>\n

Regular style free public toilets in Paris<\/strong>
\n(The phrase \u201c1st, 4th, etc.\u201d means 1st arrondissement, 4th arrondissement)<\/p>\n

244 rue de Rivoli, Paris 1st
\nPlace du Ch\u00e2telet, Paris 1st
\nPlace du Palais-Royal, Paris 1st
\n2 quai du Louvre, Paris 1st
\n15 boulevard Saint-Denis, Paris 2nd
\n5 place de la Bastille, Paris 4th
\nPlace Edmond Michelet, Paris 4th
\nPlace de l\u2019H\u00f4tel de Ville, Paris 4th
\nPlace du Parvis Notre-Dame (next to the Charlemagne statue), Paris 4th
\nSquare de la tour Saint-Jacques (in front of 6 rue Saint-Martin), Paris 4th
\n47 boulevard Saint-Germain, Paris 5th
\n149 boulevard Saint-Germain (Saint-Germain car park), Paris 5th
\nAvenue Joseph Bouvard, Paris 7th
\nAvenue George V, avenue Montaigne, Paris 8th
\nAvenue des Champs-\u00c9lys\u00e9es (the Espace Cardin side), Paris 8th
\nAvenue Marceau, avenue des Champs-\u00c9lys\u00e9es, Paris 8th
\n38 boulevard Haussmann, Paris 9th>
\n53 boulevard Haussmann, Paris 9th
\nBoulevard des Italiens, boulevard Haussmann, Paris 9th
\nAvenue Ernest Renan (Metro: Porte de Versailles), Paris 15th
\nAvenue du Pr\u00e9sident Wilson (Metro: Trocad\u00e9ro), Paris 16th
\n34 boulevard Barb\u00e8s, Paris 18th
\n1 rue Lamarck, Paris 18th<\/p>\n

Stylish, Luxury Toilets<\/strong>
\nState of the art toilets are available around Paris. Eric Salles<\/strong> opened his first Point WC shop on the Champs-\u00c9lys\u00e9es in 2006. Each cabinet is hand-cleaned after use; a separate room for parent and baby is available; each decor is different. There is a Point WC boutique<\/strong> available to buy unique supplies: toilet paper; children\u2019s accessories, wine, etc. Visit the Corporate Web site to watch a video news report on Point WC<\/strong> en fran\u00e7ais bien sur<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Mr. Salles has expanded his business into designing and installing public toilets around Paris. Each one has a customized decor and background music. The latest is a haute couture designed signed by Florence Gonot. Some Point WC receive about 50,000 visitors per month. They cost from \u20ac1 to \u20ac1.50 to use.<\/p>\n

Point WC locations:<\/strong>
\nPoint WC Carrousel du Louvre, 99 rue de Rivoli, Paris 1st
\nPoint WC Galerie \u00c9lys\u00e9es 26, 26 avenue des Champs-\u00c9lys\u00e9es, Paris 8th
\nPoint WC Passy Plaza, 53 rue de Passy, Paris 16th
\nPoint WC Printemps Haussmann, 69 boulevard Haussmann, Paris 9th
\nPrintemps de la Mode (1st floor); Printemps de l\u2019Homme (3rd floor, open on Saturday only); Printemps de la Maison (1st floor)<\/p>\n

Standard free toilets<\/strong>
\nYou can always find a free toilet in various stages of cleanliness in bars, caf\u00e9s, brasseries, restaurants, fast food outlets and department stores.<\/p>\n

List of helpful Paris guidebooks for the disabled<\/a><\/strong> .<\/p>\n

\u00a9 2011 Colleensparis.com
\nYour HOTEL and APARTMENT RESERVATION is a contribution to maintenance costs of my BLOG, WEBSITE and NEWSLETTER. Using GOOGLE helps, too. THANKS!<\/p>\n

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