Belleville in color: discovering Parisian street art with Sylvie
Each month, the International Club of Paris organizes a tour of a Parisian neighborhood or monument (Montmartre, the Marais, the Latin Quarter, the Museum of Modern Art, etc.). The itinerary, prepared by Sylvie, a professional tour guide, offers a unique way to discover the French capital. These tours are also a great opportunity for cultural exchange and sharing. We recently met Lilla, also a tour guide, who was attending the tour for the first time. She kindly agreed to share her experience with us.
An article to discover below, signed by Lilla FÜLÖP.
One Saturday afternoon, curious about street art, I decided to join a guided tour of the Belleville neighborhood, organized by Club International de Paris.
Our guide, Sylvie Raout—a passionate tour guide, art historian, and archaeologist at the Palace of Versailles—welcomed us enthusiastically. From the very first steps, Sylvie gave a brief overview of the history of the Belleville neighborhood before getting to the heart of the matter: street art. The scene was set. It’s an open-air museum, with its classics, but also one that is constantly evolving. It’s a place of free expression where we even had the chance to see graffiti artists in action, creating their pieces.
We learn that there are five major styles in Street Art: graffiti, collage, stencil, sticker, and mosaic.
Personally, I love discovering the origin of words, and Sylvie tells us that the name “Ménilmontant” comes from “mesnil” (meaning village) and “montant” (meaning uphill), but also from an old expression meaning bad weather: “mau temps.”
This neighborhood, where Édith Piaf was born, holds many secrets.
Discovering Street Art, through the streets and up to the summit to admire the view.
As we stroll through the streets—rue de la Fontaine au Roi, rue des Trois Couronnes, rue Dénoyez—we discover iconic works of art.
We even stop in front of the vacant lot on rue des Trois Couronnes, a former cabaret now abandoned. Behind the door lies temporary emergency housing for refugees. To give this place a more human touch, an artist is invited each month to decorate the wall. We were lucky enough to meet two of them.
Continuing our walk, among these iconic works, we see a huge mural, the first piece of street art in Belleville, depicting a detective searching for clues. Turning our heads, we spot Ben’s monumental trompe-l’œil, surrounded by suspended figures, with this message displayed on a panel: “Beware of words.”
Then comes the Belvedere, which offers a panoramic view of Paris, illustrated by mosaics depicting the city’s iconic monuments.
Sylvie also tells us the story of the famous Wallace Fountains, still in operation today, providing free drinking water to Paris.
Highlight of the visit
A beautiful ending
At the end of the route, we walk along the Petite Ceinture, a former railway line that has been repurposed, to admire even more street art. The highlight? A huge octopus by Kraken, which marks the end of this vibrant adventure.
Conclusion
Thanks to Sylvie, we were able to immerse ourselves in the history of the Belleville neighborhood through the lens of street art. We also gained a deeper understanding of the neighborhood’s spirit, enriched by the spontaneous stories shared by some of its residents. This walk definitely makes you want to discover Paris in a new light and sign up for other guided tours offered by the International Club.
Lilla FÜLÖP
We thank Lilla for her testimony and invite you to discover her profile on LinkedIn.
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