Belleville : Télégraphe, Place des Fêtes, Mouzaïa, Buttes Chaumont

Shortly before it became part of Paris, Belleville had the second largest population in the region after the capital. Belleville has always had a strong personality, with a mix of farmers, winegrowers, craftsmen and workers. Belleville has also always been a welcoming place, first for provincials, then for all those who had to leave their country because of poverty or war, which has forged its popular and cosmopolitan identity.

We'll start our visit from the 2nd highest summit in the capital before heading towards the Buttes Chaumont Park. This immense green space was entirely created for the Universal Exhibition of 1867.

On our way we'll come across some charming hamlets from the 1920s, as well as the Place des Fêtes, which was disfigured in the 1970s and whose history needs to be told. That said, concrete and the departure of most of the original inhabitants have not eradicate the soul of the district.

Then it will be time to cross Mouzaïa, a bucolic neighbourhood of small houses, constructed on a gypsum quarry, with colourful frontages, whose history matches with the socio-historical context of the area.

We will end our tour in a secret spot: follow the guide to discover all these intriguing places!

Your guide, Guillaume Le Roux, from Le Vrai Paris, is a passionate about Paris and its history, its secrets, and its development. He is also a foodie and shares all his good addresses in Paris during his visits. He even has a website – 716lavie.com – where he recommends the most typical, delicious, and low-price restaurants in the 13th district. We advise you to check this website, and the other gourmet visits on Explore Paris if you are a lover of good flavours!

This guided tour is conducted in English.