Belleville Uncovered: An Eye-Opening Tour of Paris’s Street Art Capital

Think of the City of Love and we’ll bet your mind wanders to the Eiffel Tower, River Seine and love-locked bridges. However, more alternative, creative scenes have been alive and kicking in the capital for quite some time, and they’re just as worthy of your attention. That’s where this tour comes in. Hosted by Meeting the French, this guided tour of Belleville – an artsy, multicultural, working class neighbourhood – brings participants up close to some of the most intriguing and widely celebrated street art and graffiti in Paris. Your guide, a street art fiend, reveals the French culture surrounding urban art (did you know that street artists roll with crews?), tagging, and government intervention. Plus, if you’re lucky, you may spot an artist at work. In short, it’s a fascinating two hours exploring a world that still remains unknown to the average Joe. And yes, it goes far beyond Banksy.

About your guide 
Despite our incessant grilling, there’s not a question that guides from Meeting The French can’t answer about their chosen subject. Their tours offer an insightful look into many charming facets of French life, and they’re a heap of fun too. 

Here’s the plan…  
Meet your guide at Belleville, the centre of Paris’s urban art movement. From there, they’ll walk you through the neighbourhood. You’ll see the little side streets, unexpected alleyways and roads that are lined, top to bottom, with graffiti and street art. No colour, texture or message is off limits. From the large-scale murals to the tiny graffiti tags, these works all have a fascinating story to tell, and you’ll hear as many as is physically possible in just two hours. Find out about the techniques and creative processes of street artists. You’ll also hear about one of the most difficult parts of the job: getting their works up on the walls without getting caught.  

After two hours of exploring, you’ll say goodbye to your guide in Belleville. Then, you’re on your own – in one of the few places in Paris where the art is completely free. Enjoy it.