When it comes to going through the Town of Light, there is the Arc de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower, and every other large monument you could aspire to imagine. However, what even many residents have no idea is that there's a plethora of great finds by means of secret villages that have been once thriving communities themselves but have since been absorbed into the material of Paris, for example that of La Campagne à Paris.
Of course, I'm sure you've already heard of the most famous of the lost villages of Paris! After all, right until the 19th-century, Montmartre was a village in its own right, filled with farmland and lots of moulins (that's windmills in English). Today, only a handful of windmills remain and there's only one vineyard left!
Luckily for all of us, you will find lesser-known spots where you can still see the Parisian villages of old. Today, we’re going for a walk of the very most secluded of those. Hidden in the 20th arrondissement of the city, remote the beaten tourist track and up 1 of 3 incredibly steep sets of steps, so quiet is this oasis of calm that if you stop and pause, you can even hear birdsong…
History of los angeles Campagne à Paris
Quite literally translated as ‘the countryside in Paris,’ this micro-arrondissement is constituted of purely residential buildings. And never your typical Haussmannian style structures either. Instead, the housing is largely two and three-storey buildings and there’s no shop, monument, or attraction in sight! Most houses even have their own gardens, that is a luxury seldom based in the city.
Accessed via one single road or several steep flights of steps, once towards the top of this mini ‘butte’ you’ll soon discover four roads which form a circle of sorts and therefore include La Campagne à Paris. The area, much like Villa Leandré in the 18th arrondissement from the city, was in the 1920s, specifically 1928 on top of former underground quarries.
How to visit La Campagne à Paris
For those not knowledgable, the Parisian area can be a little tricky to find! The closest metro station is Métro Porte de Bagnolet, located on line 3. Alternatively, the picturesque village may also be reached via tram Porte de Bagnolet, Porte de Vincennes or by bus (76, 102, 351).
In total there are 92 townhouses, while the streets which make in the small area are Rue du Père Prosper Enfantin, Rue Irénée Blanc, Rue Mondonville, and Rue Jules Siegfried. As a result, to find the best directions, I recommend popping one of these simple to your map application and following a route (otherwise you’re as prone to get as lost when i did!).
If you have a little more time to spare during Paris and you’ve seen all the major districts and monuments, then I couldn’t recommend going to this secluded oasis of calm more. Best visited on the sunny day once the streets look their finest and also the birds are very literally singing, el born area from the city never really tends to outside, hurry up.
If you’re visiting Paris in fall, then you’ll soon realize that because of the number of foliage and trailing vines, the beauty of this small area of the city truly gets to be more magical, with fall tones and even more ample photo opportunities. Before visiting, note that La Campagne à Paris is an actual district of the 20th arrondissement and is not to become wrongly identified as a nearby shop also is called La Campagne à Paris.
If you have a a bit more time whilst in the area, then you need to note that there are many more unusual things you can do and hidden attractions. For example, the encompassing Village of Charonne is yet another of the forgotten village vibe regions of Paris with the kind of small-town stores to complement.
Otherwise, Pere Lachaise cemetery, where the likes of Oscar Wilde and Edith Piaf are buried, is simply a short stroll away. What’s more, Pavilion Hermitage is really a nearby stunning building surrounded by its very own beautifully manicured garden which hosts temporary exhibitions throughout the year (find further details here).
