A Street-Art Tour Of Belleville Paris' Eclectic Neighbourhood

Belleville is a traditionally working-class quartier only locals know about and is tucked away from tourists. While it’s a little rough around the edges, it’s bursting with colour and vibrancy because of the work of some of Paris’ most talented graffiti artists.

Belleville is an eclectic neighbourhood that straddles the borderline between the 20th, 19th, 10th and 11th arrondissements. It lies on a hill that vies with Montmartre as the highest (and the most artistic) in Paris.

Fontaine au Roi street art in Belleville

Its main attraction is the artistic vibe, as the area boasts impressive graffiti street art and exhibitions at every corner.

The quartier may be steeped in ancient Gothic architecture, boasting its very own Notre Dame, but it rejects tradition with all its might.

Belleville is one of the last neighbourhoods in Paris to remain within a modest price range, and so attracts all the talented young artists that can’t afford to rent anywhere else.

Wherever you turn, there is the vibrancy and colour of street art and self-expression. You’ll be amazed at the artistic masterpieces lining the street walls.

The best place to start a street-art tour in this neighbourhood is Rue de la Fontaine au Roi, whose walls are lined with creative expression.

You can take the line 11 metro to arrive at Belleville or Goncourt, or take line 2 and you will arrive at Couronnes station.

Afterwards, a great place to visit is Rue Denoyez, whose uphill cobbled paths are in cute contrast with the street art. It’s on this stretch that you’ll find Frichez nous la paix, an independent gallery and artists’ workshop that is simply a must-visit.

Opened in 2002, Friche-nous la Paix is an atypical and unique gallery with a resolutely original façade. The place is full of character and young friendly artists.

If you wander a little further along, you’ll stumble across the Ateliers d’Artistes de Belleville, a larger-scale visual-arts centre that is open to visitors from Wednesday to Sunday in the afternoons.

Most of these works of art are ephemeral, meaning that the quartier is graced with new images all the time, kept alive in a constant state of artistic renewal.

This is a snapshot of some of the artistic wonders you can expect to stumble across, but the art is in constant flux.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.