Campagne à Paris – Look of countryside in the city

Eastern neighbourhoods have always been being the most « popular » areas, in the sense that they have been being occupied by lower classes, as opposed to the « quartiers chics », located in Western Paris. This sociological dispersion goes back to the end of 17th century, when aristocrats left the Marais to Western districts to get closer to the new royal residence in Versailles, and was reinforced by different factors, including prevailing winds blowing from West to East.

For these reasons, while Western neighbourhoods are quite homogeneous in architecture and urbanism, Eastern ones are more heterogeneous, with huge ugly buildings built to host working classes, but also « provincial » areas, like Village de Charonne or Villas de la Mouzaïa.

Another good example is « La Campagne à Paris » (Countryside in Paris), built on a small hill North-West of Porte de Bagnolet. From flowered Rue Paul Strauss or from one of the numerous stairs surrounding the hill, you can access to this beautiful and picturesque residential block, built on old gypsum quarries, today a paradise for urban cats, lovers looking for discretion to kiss or flirt, and spring or summer picnickers.

This neighbourhood was recently chosen as a set for a night scene in L’Armée du Crime and it is also where Nicolas‘s family lives in the filmed adaptation of popular French stories Le Petit Nicolas.

If you leave or arrive to Paris by international bus, don’t miss this spot. It’s just one metro station away from Gallieni International Bus Terminal!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Campagne à Paris | Relaxing
Rue Irénée Blanc | Belleville/Nation
24 hours daily

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