Cultivora

This November, Pitchfork will once again infuse some ooh la la into their festival, which will take place in Paris for the second consecutive year. The music publication started their eponymous music festival in 2005 in order to create a "real-world, tangible experience," Pitchfork President Chris Kaskie said at the New Music Seminar last June. By creating a festival, "a segment of the community can be part of the Pitchfork experience."

The festival takes place at the Grande Halle de la Villette, located on the northeast edge of the city in the 19th Arrondissement. Once known as the industrial center of Paris, this picturesque area is now the hub for bohemian culture.

To help you maximize your experience surrounding the festival, we partnered with Gogo City Guides, publishers of our favorite travel guides and one of the inspirations behind Cultivora. GoGo started in Paris in 2005 as a monthly cultural fanzine, and today publishes new generation travel guides to Paris and London. GoGo's founder, Kate van den Boogert, works with local teams to create tightly edited guides with a focus on emerging local designers, independent boutiques, small neighborhood bars, and fresh new restaurants. The guides are published biannually and have an accompanying mobile app that is updated year-round.

For this guide, the GoGo team put together a set of recommendations near the festival, as well as a selection of activities across Paris that would appeal to a Pitchfork Paris festivalgoer. If you're headed to Paris for the festival, or even if you live in Paris, we highly suggest that you pick up a copy of GoGo Paris or download their cool mobile app.

Festival Line Up

Thursday, November 1:
M83, Sébastien Tellier, James Blake, Chairlift, Japandroids, John Talabot, Factory Floor, AlunaGeorge, DIIV, How to Dress Well

Friday, November 2:
Animal Collective, Fuck Buttons, Robyn, The Walkmen, Chromatics, The Tallest Man on Earth, Wild Nothing, Jessie Ware, Outfit, Ratking

Saturday, November 3:
Grizzly Bear, Simian Mobile Disco, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, Breton, Liars, Twin Shadow, Disclosure, Cloud Nothings, Purity Ring, Julio Bashmore, Rustie, Death Grips, Isaac Delusion

Transportation info and other city insights come from the GoGo Paris Guide. Download their mobile app or buy the latest print edition for even more information about Paris, along with over 350 of the hottest restaurants, bars, shops, and more.

• How do I get to and from Paris?
• What neighborhood is Pitchfork Paris in? How do I get there?
• What times does Pitchfork Paris start and end?
• Is re-entry allowed?
• What are items are prohibited?
• What's the deal with food and beverages?
• What do I need to know about money?
• What will the weather be like?
• What should I wear?
• What should I bring?
• Anything else I need to know?
• Does the festival have a mobile app?

• How do I get to and from Paris?

  AIRPORTS
  Charles de Gaulle (Roissy), 30km north east of Paris, is Paris' major airport for international flights. There are three terminals: make sure you know which one you're landing in/leaving from.
  
  The RER B train line links the airport to Paris and its suburbs and is the quickest route into Paris, taking about 50 minutes to get to the center (Châtelet les Halles, via the Gare du Nord). The RER train makes two stops, for Terminal 1 & 2, but you will need to then take a shuttle bus to connect to Terminal 1. You can walk to Terminal 3 from Terminal 1. Tickets cost €9.10 for a single and trains run every 10-15 minutes, from around 5am to midnight daily.
  
  There are two Air France Buses servicing the airport. The first leaves from Étoile (1 ave Carnot) via Porte Maillot (bd Gouvion St Cyr) and runs every 15 minutes from 5:45am-11pm daily. The trip takes around 45 minutes and costs €15. The second leaves from Gare Montparnasse (rue de Commandant Mouchotte) via the Gare du Lyon (20bis bd Diderot), runs every 30 minutes from 7am-9pm daily and takes around 50 minutes (€16.50 single).
  
  The RoissyBus runs every 15-20 minutes from 5:45am-11pm daily, departing from Opéra (corner rue Scribe and rue Auber). Journey time is 45-60 minutes and the fare is €10.
  
  The 350 Bus runs from both airport terminals (1, 2A, 2B) to Gare de l'Est via Gare du Nord, takes 45-60 minutes and runs every 15-30 minutes between 6am-10pm. The 351 Bus runs to Nation, takes 45-60 minutes, and runs every 15-30 minutes from around 6am-9:30pm daily. You can buy tickets on board, €5.10.
  
  A taxi ride takes about 30-60 minutes depending on traffic and will cost around €50, plus €1 per item of luggage.
  
  There are also shuttle services, or affordable private car services, often grouped, that will pick you up from your hotel or apartment and drive you to the airport 24/7. Prices vary but expect to pay about €25 for one person and €36 for two...Google 'airport shuttle' to find companies, here's two we know: Airport Connection or Paris Shuttle.
  
  Orly airport flaunts a radical new architecture of glass, steel, and concrete, part of a new urban model that Jacques Tati parodied in his film Play Time, whose opening scenes take place at Orly, 18km south of Paris. Orly is now a secondary airport dedicated to domestic and inter-European flights.
  
  From RER B station Antony, take the Orlyval shuttle train to the airport. The journey takes about 25 minutes on the RER plus 8 minutes on the Orlyval and co*sts €13.50. The Orlyval runs every 4-7 minutes.
  
  The RER C station Pont du Rungis is linked to the airport by the 'Paris par le train' bus service which runs to Gare d'Austerlitz in Paris. The journey takes 25 minutes on the train, plus 10 minutes on the bus and costs €6.30. Trains run every 20 minutes on weekdays. Trains run from Gare d'Austerlitz between 5:40am and 11:15pm.
  
  Air France Buses run every 30 minutes from 6:15am-11:15pm daily, stopping at Invalides, Étoile, and Montparnasse. The journey takes around 35 minutes and costs €11.50.
  
  The OrlyBus (€6.90) runs every 20 minutes from Place Denfert-Rochereau (14-ieme ARR), between around 5:30am-11:30pm, and takes around 30 minutes.
  
  A taxi takes around 20-40 minutes and will cost around €35, plus €1 per item of luggage.
  
  There are also shuttle services, or affordable private car services, often grouped, that will pick you up from your hotel or apartment and drive you to the airport 24/7. Prices vary but expect to pay about €25 for one person and €36 for two...Google 'airport shuttle' to find companies, here's two we know: Airport Connection or Paris Shuttle.
  
  TRAINS
  Eurostar: The Very Fast Train linking Paris to London arrives and departs from a dedicated, secure area, upstairs at Gare du Nord station, in central Paris. From here you can continue your journey by Metro (lines 4 and 5), taxi, or bus.
  
  Thalys: The Very Fast Train linking Paris to Brussels, Amsterdam, Cologne, and other destinations in The Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany also arrives at the Gare du Nord. From here you can continue your journey by Metro (lines 4 and 5), taxi, or bus.
  
  SNCF/TGV: The national French railway service, the SNCF, connects Paris to the rest of the country and beyond by train. Some destinations are served by the high-speed TGV trains which depart from the main train stations in Paris (Gare du Nord, Gare de l'Est, Montparnasse, Gare du Lyon).

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• What neighborhood is Pitchfork Paris in? How do I get there?

  The festival will be held at the Grande Halle de la Villette in the 19th Arrondissement (district). The precise address is: 211, avenue Jean Jaurès - 75019 Paris.
  
  Bicycle: Be eco-friendly and ride a bike to the festival. Bike parking is available in the square near the Cité des Sciences close to the Porte de la Villette Metro station.
  
  Rented Bicycle: Paris has a municipal bike rental system called the “Vélib.” Pick up a bike at any one of the 1500 stations around the city and return it to one of three stations near the festival: the Porte de la Villette Metro station, the Porte de Pantin Metro station, and inside the park on the Allée du Belvédère. Note: you must buy a Velib ticket from one of the machines for €1.70 per day or €8 for one week. For more information visit the Vélib website.
  
  Metro: One of the easiest and cheapest ways to get around Paris is via their version of the subway, the Metro. Trains run frequently between 5:20am and 1:20am every day, you have fourteen color coded lines to choose from, and you'll know which way you're going by the final destination listed on signs and the train itself. For the festival, you can take Ligne 5 (Bobigny – Place d'Italie) and get off at Porte de Pantin, or Ligne 7 (Villejuif-Louis Aragon / La Courneuve) and get off at Porte de la Villette. Consult the Route Planner for specific directions from your current location.
  
  Bus: Use the same ticket that you use for the Metro for buses, and take lines 75, 151, PC2 or PC3 to Porte de Pantin; alternatively, take lines 75, 139, 150, 152, PC2 or PC3 to Porte de la Villette. Punch your ticket as you board near the driver, and be sure to push the red button to signal that you would like to get off. Consult the Route Planner for specific directions from your current location.
  
  Parking: Parking is available 24-hours per day, 7 days per week at the Parking Nord Cité des Sciences facility.
  
  Taxi: Taxis are readily available at taxi stands or via street hails during the week, but scarce on the weekends so be prepared. Look for taxis with green or white lights, which indicate they are available; lights will be red or yellow if not. Rates are reasonable for Europe, starting at €2.10 per ride, with a €6 minimum. Note: most taxis will only allow 3 passengers at one time.

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• What times does Pitchfork Paris start and end?

  The festival starts at 4pm each day, and runs until 2am on Thursday and Friday. On Saturday, the festival ends at 6am.

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• Is re-entry allowed?

  No, all exists are final until the festivities begin again the next day.

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• What are items are prohibited?

  Knives, guns, professional cameras, animals, outside food, drinks, and drugs are not allowed inside the festival, but non-professional cameras, sealed water bottles, and cigarettes are fine. Your bags will be subject to search by security at the entrance.

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• What's the deal with food and beverages?

  Given that outside food and beverages are prohibited, we can only assume that food will be available on-site. Alcohol will be served at the event, but you must be at least 18 years old to consume. We will post updated information as it becomes available.

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• What do I need to know about money?

  To be safe, have some cash on hand in the event that cards are not accepted at the festival.There are two banks with ATMs (called “distributeurs automatique”) close to the festival:
  Société Générale: 198 Avenue Jean Jaurès, 75019 Paris
  LCL - Le Crédit Lyonnais: 1 Rue Eugène Jumin, 75019 Paris

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• What will the weather be like?

  Weather in Paris can be tricky. In October the average high temperature is 59ºF (15ºC) with the lows averaging 46ºF (8ºC), and in November the averages drop to 49ºF (9ºC) for the high and 39ºF (4ºC) for the low.
  
  
  Click for weather forecast

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• What should I wear?

  Layers. Lots and lots of layers. Like we said, the weather can be unpredictable and drop significantly between the high and the low; you'll want to have the option to remove a layer while dancing then put it on again when outside. Comfortable shoes are also a must, especially on Saturday when the festival runs until 6am.

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• What should I bring?

  A French phrasebook or a translation app will always come in handy. You should also keep a copy of your passport on hand at all times (keep the original locked away in the hotel safe) in addition to your picture ID, especially if you plan to do a lot of shopping. Don't forget, if you're over 18 and plan to drink at the festival, you may be asked to show a valid photo ID.

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• Anything else I need to know?

  Above all else, attempt to use your French. While many Parisians in shops, restaurants, and hotels in central Paris speak at least some English, you will get considerably further if you make an attempt to speak their language first. Smile. Always say Please (“s'il vous plait”) and Thank You (“merci”).
  

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• Does the festival have a mobile app?

  No word yet on whether the festival plans to release an official mobile app, but if you need help navigating the city, download the GoGo Paris mobile app.

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