What to Do in Belleville, Paris
Soak up the kaleidoscopic street art, take a stroll through the city’s most famous cemetery and admire the view from Belleville’s sky-tickling park with our tips for exploring this buzzy Parisian neighbourhood
01 September, 2022
- Words by
- Hannah Meltzer
Take
Take
it from us, the best way to explore Belleville is on foot,
circumnavigating its greener corners and highest reaches at an
ambulatory pace so you have time to take in the dizzying graffitied
walls and bohemian streets. Most guides will send you straight to
Edith Piaf’s old apartment – now a museum dedicated to the city’s
most celebrated chanteuse – but we’d rather keep explorations
outdoors.
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Climb Parc de Belleville
Parc de Belleville is one of the least-well-known of Paris’ city
parks, but one of the most charming. Climb the steps from the south
side, flanked by trees and sloping lawns, and at the top you’ll be
rewarded with a fabulous view of the city, including a clear view
across to the Eiffel Tower. In summer, locals enjoy grabbing a beer
at Moncoeur Belleville and sipping it al fresco while taking in the
vista.
Address
47 Rue des Couronnes, 75020
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Explore art on Rue Dénoyez
Lovers of street art will be in heaven on the narrow Rue
Dénoyez. Back in the 1830s, when Belleville was still an outpost of
Paris, Mr and Mrs Dénoyez ran a cabaret on this street, and it
still has a creative and festive feel. The walls are a colourful
kaleidoscope of tags and murals, including some beautiful
portraits. Along the way, you’ll find cute cafés and restaurants,
including the fabulous Le Grand Bain.
Address
Rue Denoyez 75020
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Enter the enchanting world of Père Lachaise
This iconic cemetery is more than just a resting place for some
of Paris’ most famous inhabitants, like Oscar Wilde, Jim Morrison
and Belleville-born Edith Piaf. It’s also a picturesque and
beautiful city park with its own intricate network of alleyways and
a spellbinding array of statues and memorials. Though visiting this
site might seem sombre on the surface, in reality, Père Lachaise
feels more like a place where life is respected and celebrated. To
appreciate another side of the place, check out the Instagram
account @la_vie_au_cimetiere, run by the cemetery’s
conservationist, Benoît Gallot, who showcases the fauna of the
cemetery, including its birds, stray cats and wild foxes.
Address
16 Rue du Repos, 75020