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Home > Street Art Paris 13: Butte aux Cailles & the Mural Program

Street Art Paris 13: Butte aux Cailles & the Mural Program

Did you know that Paris is home to some of the most exciting street art in Europe – even the world?

One of our favorite Street Art Paris district (by quantity and quality) is Paris 13 . Traditionally a ‘grey neighborhood,’ Paris 13 is today in continuous transformation. Its once characteristic ugly towers or streets without any charm are now highlighted thanks to street artists from around the world.

The great culprit of the Paris 13 District’s transformation is its mayor, Jérome Coumet , and his team. The socialist at the head of Mairie Paris 13 since 2007 is especially interested in street art. With this spirit and enthusiasm, Paris 13 is using Street Art to heal its image and attract young people proposing to them a cool neighborhood to live in.

Street Art in Paris 13 – Main Locations

Paris 13 is a huge district with different areas and atmospheres. Fortunately for us, Street Artworks are concentrated in three main areas:

BUTTE AUX CAILLES

This calm and picturesque quarter combines pretty cobblestone lanes with interesting graffiti Street Art.

A Street Art stroll around Butte aux Cailles is a fun way to discover this quarter while following talented artists. Butte aux Cailles is also an excellent place for a drink or a nice dinner, especially when the weather is good and you can sit outdoors.

LES FRIGOS (THE FRIDGES)

This huge hangar with many refrigerated rooms was built after WW1 to stock all the products transported by train from the countryside to Paris before going to the different Parisian markets. Abandoned since the sixties, in 1980, the SNCF (the French National railway company) rented out parts of the warehouse to artisans and artists.

Today Les Frigos hosts 87 workshops in a very special atmosphere. The frigos’ external walls (but also inside) are covered with interesting graffiti street art.

THE GIANT MURAL PROGRAM

Paris 13 managed to attire famous street artists doing high-quality giant murals which cover some huge buildings without character. When street artists have permission and don’t need to hide from the police, they can do something wonderful. They can take their time and make it great. And actually, that’s what happened in Paris 13 with the city council’s support.

Best Street Art in Butte aux Cailles

Closest Metro Stations: Corvissart, L6 or Tolbiac, L7

This quarter has a very charming countryside atmosphere. The street artworks here are small, a scale that fits very well to its narrow and winding lanes. The most famous street artists in Butte Aux Cailles are Miss Tic and Jef Aerosol, both French artists.

Miss Tic Street Art has literally invaded the quarter with her B&W graffiti, always expressing her ideas through poems and wordplay. What we like from Miss Tic is the wordplay in her work, but if you don’t speak French, maybe you will appreciate her work less.

• 1- Alerte à la bombe by Miss Tic – rue des Cinq-Diamants /rue Butte aux Cailles
• 2- Un homme peut en cacher un autre by Miss Tic – 30 rue des Cinq-Diamants
• 3- Je ne brise pas que les coeurs by Miss Tic – 27 rue des Cinq-Diamants

Jef Aerosol also works in B&W. He has created many portraits of famous people like Elvis or Gandhi. Still, the main part of his work is dedicated to the anonymous people on the streets: musicians, beggars, children playing… It is very easy to recognize Jef Aerosol’s work because he always signs with red arrows.

• 4- La musique adoucit les murs by Jef Aerosol – 21 rue des Cinq-Diamants
• 5- Baisers by Zaira – 44 rue des Cinq-Diamants
• 6- Lézarts de la bièvre by Jana & JS – 2 rue de l’Espérance

Best Giant Murals in Paris 13

Closest Metro Stations: Nationale and Chevaleret, L6 /Porte d’Italie and Porte de Choisy, L7

Huge murals by famous street artists worldwide have invaded the biggest avenues in Paris 13, and now street art is part of the landscape.

Some people define Boulevard Vincent Auriol as ‘the Champs Elysées of Street Art.’ Along this wide avenue crossed by the metro and its surroundings, it’s where you can find most of these giant murals. The cool thing about Boulevard Vincent Auriol is that the metro (L6) rides by so you can see these murals from different points of view. Other interesting murals are located between Avenue de Choisy and Avenue d’Italie .

The main authors of these giant murals are Sainer  and M-City (Poland), Vhils (Portugal), Kislow (Ukrania) OBEY (US), Inti, Maher, and Aner, (Chile), Ethos (Brazil), ZED (Tunisia + Morocco) and Jana & JS (France-Germany).

France is represented by Seth Street Art, Babs, Rero, SteW, and C215. C215 is one of our favorite French street artists, his work consists mainly of close-up portraits of people usually forgotten by our society: beggars, homeless people, refugees, street kids… He also likes to feature cats and his daughter Nina. He has a very defined style and you can also recognize his work by his signature, a dice with C215 inside.

Boulevard Vincent Auriol Self-Guided Walking Tour

This is only a selection of what you can see in this area. If you follow this walking tour, you will find along your way other murals and graffiti. This area is full of nice surprises!

• A- Inti (Chile) – 81 Boulevard Vincent Auriol
• B- ? – 120 Boulevard Vincent Auriol
• C- C215 (France) – 141 Boulevard Vincent Auriol
• D- OBEY (US) – 93 rue Jeanne d’Arc
• E- Seth (France) – 110 rue Jeanne d’Arc
• F- Jana & JS (Germany and France) -110 rue Jeanne d’Arc
• G- Inti (Chile) – 13 rue Lahire

Avenue de Choisy /Avenue d’Italie Self-Guided Walking Tour

• H- Inti (Chile) – 129 Avenue d’Italie
• I- Pantónio (Portugal) – Avenue de Choisy / Place de Vénétie
• J- Stew (France) – Place de Vénétie

Other Interesting Street Art in Paris 13

The following street artworks are located outside the above-mentioned areas, but some of them are so beautiful that they are worth a detour.

• K- Seth – 2 rue Emile Deslandres; M. Les Gobelins, L7; Velib Station #13.005
• L- Danse de la fontaine émergente by Chen Zhen (China) – Place Augusta Holmes; M. Quai de la Gare, L6; Velib Station #13.020
• M- Blowin by c215 (France) – Entrance Hall Hospital Pitié – Salpêtrière, 83 Boulevard de l’hôpital; M. St Marcel, L5; Velib Station #13.103

And there you have it, the best street artworks in Paris13 and where to find them. Have you seen any of our favorites?

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Quirky parisian explorer with a preference for lesser-known sights, i am continuously looking for new ideas and tips to bring you the best of the city of light read more about me ., i am elisa, the travel blogger behind world in paris. quirky explorer with a preference for the local side of my city and its lesser-known sights, i am continuously looking for new ideas to enjoy the best of paris & around . do you want to go beyond the louvre museum or the eiffel tower keep clicking for first-hand information & my best tips learn more.

Street-Art guided tour in Paris 13th arrondissement

Offered by :

Jean-Baptiste et son équipe

Paris 13th district (75)

• 1 hour 30 minutes
• Up to 20 people
• For the 6-99 years old

Instant booking

You can cancel free of charge up to 48h before the date of the activity.

Gift card valid for 12 months, free exchange

Activity description :

Street art, or urban art, is an artistic movement that emerged in the 60s and encompasses all forms of art created in public places. An ephemeral, sometimes committed art form, street artists use a variety of techniques, including stencils, graffiti and billboards. With a strong presence in capitals such as Berlin, street art has been gradually developing over the years in Paris, with the support of the public authorities.

Your visit: street art in the 13th arrondissement

Guided tour - 1h30 - Distance covered: 2 km - Outdoor

Recently, metro users have been lucky enough to see a number of frescoes blossoming along line 6 . These creations are the work of internationally renowned artists and collectives. This is the result of a desire on the part of the public authorities and the mayor of the 13th arrondissement to promote Street-Art along the buildings in this district.

Tour highlights :

• Discover the new hub of Parisian Street Art
• Monumental frescoes that sublimate the district
• Explore the 13th arrondissement from a new and original angle!

Discover the impressive immensity of these colorful frescoes as you stroll through this less-touristy arrondissement, and don't forget to keep your eyes fixed on the sky to admire them!

Zero booking fees

Price / person - From age 12

Children's rate

Price / person - Up to and including age 11

Group rate for 3 to 4 people

Price per person

Group rate for 5 to 6 people

Group rates for 7 people or more

4,9 (29 reviews)

Our reviews come exclusively from customers who bought this activity These comments have been automatically translated

It's a lovely walk that we'd love to make even longer!

25 mar 2024

Very nice guided tour of various recent works. The guide was friendly and very available to answer our questions. In 1h30, we only saw part of the works in Paris 13, now we have to try the "Street art" tour of Butte aux Cailles.

Very nice walk in the 13th district (Boulevard Auriol, Rue Jeanne d'Arc ... ) with a fascinating guide. Just look up and you'll see: C215, INTI, Shepard Fairey , D*Face, Seth, Invader, Jana & JS ...

22 jun 2023

Pleasant service, very nice discovery

26 mar 2023

A great experience, a very friendly and knowledgeable guide ☺️ I recommend it with my eyes closed.

Address: 3 place Pinel, 75013 Paris How to get there : - Metro 6 : Nationale

Know before you go

• Guaranteed departure for the first participant.
• Please arrive at the meeting point 10 minutes before the tour begins.
• Your guide will be waiting for you at the meeting point with a sign.
• Distance covered: approx. 2 km.
• Minors may not join the tour unless accompanied by an adult, who is responsible for any minors he or she accompanies.
• The guide may decide to postpone the tour if conditions do not allow it to run smoothly.
• Please bring weather-appropriate clothing.
• Activity conducted in French - French-speaking guide.

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Street art walking tour in the 13th arrondissement

Spotlight on the huge murals that have transformed the 13th arrondissement into an open-air museum. The 13th arrondissement in the southern part of Paris is peppered with street art. In the 1960s, artists wanting to beautify their surroundings began painting murals on the façades of buildings in this industrial district. In recent years, thanks to backing from the 13th arrondissement town hall and local art galleries, some parts of the district have metamorphosed into veritable open-air museums. There are up to 26 giant works in Boulevard Vincent Auriol alone. In 2013, the district’s Tour Paris 13 initiative became a talking point: a building earmarked for demolition was painted from top to toe by street artists and opened to the public for a month before being torn down. This self-guided tour takes in some of the area’s most noteworthy artworks.

Street Art 13

Paris, france.

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Street art cruise on the Ourcq Canal

As a part of the Été du Canal festival, enjoy a round trip guided cruise from the Bassin de la Villette to the Bondy bridge to discover the intense relationship between street art and the Ourcq canal. The street-art cruises of July 16 and July 30 are translated in FSL (French Sign Language).

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With your guide, immerse yourself in a vibrant world of colour and creativity as you explore the murals and urban artworks that have turned Paris's 13th arrondissement into a veritable open-air museum.

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Enjoy a guided tour of urban art along the canal de l'Ourcq by the globe-trotting graffiti artist Meuh!

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Street art tour: the murals of Paris’s 13th arrondissement

Take a street art tour in the south of Paris and discover murals and graffiti painted by renowned international artists including Obey, Inti, C215, and Seth.

Explore Paris during a walk based on street-art with a small group guided by an urban art lover or even a street-artist . Discover the nicest frescos and graffs of Paris and meet the most renowned Parisian street artists.

These guided  walking tours on the street art theme are also an occasion to know more about the different Parisian districts and to see them through another point of view. The Montmartre walls, the Marais, the 13th, Montreuil, Vitry and even Bercy are also to be visited. Your guide will introduce you to techniques, styles, street art artists and will talk about the history and perspectives of urban art.

Introductory street art workshops are also offered in the Paris area: graffiti, spray cans, stencils, tags... will no longer have any secrets for you. These street art classes are perfect for a  family outing with children and teenagers and for lovers of artistic and cultural activities .

Where to find Street Art in Paris part 2: 13th arrondissement

• Post published: January 12, 2020

While thousands of people are lining up to see the Eiffel Tower… while the majority of visitors fall into all the tourist traps… the 13th offers you an authentic, original neighborhood, with local vibes, great food, good prices and many interesting alternatives. And if you are a fan of urban art you must add this place to your bucket list!

When I first moved to town in 2013, I spent most of my time in this area. I arrived during the creation of famous Tour Paris 13 curated by an inspiring Mehdi Ben Cheikh from Galerie Itinerrance . He invited over 80 artists from all over the world to decorate a nine stories building inside and out; it was opened for public for exactly one month before it’s total demolition. Thanks to this project I have met many talented artists including Inti , Pantonio , Roti , Btoy , El Seed or Jaz just to name a few.

As a professionally trained artist, I must say, I had some difficulties at the beginning to appreciate graffiti and tagging. Thanks to my new friends, mostly street artists and muralists, who took me to different art fairs, art auctions, shows, festivals etc. and educated me about the movement; I finally started to understand more and more about the origin and purpose behind it as well as its popularity.

For me, 13th will always be the lucky number because it was here that the whole idea for Street Art Tour Paris has emerged. The first tour I created was Murals XXL . 

It was largely based on Boulevard 13 Mural project , supported by the mayor Jérôme Coumet and curated by Itinerrance Gallery . Since I know many of the artists personally and I know the whole project directly from its source, I am fascinated by it even more.

There is so much to discover with every new painted wall that appears in Paris and I feel lucky to share my knowledge with Parisians and expats, who want to explore their city a little deeper or just more alternatively. Soon travellers from all around the world started to join us.

13th arrondissement has the biggest selection of urban art galleries in Paris today. After Itinerrance , I recommend you to also visit: GCA Gallery run by a wonderful guy Geoffroy Jossaume, MathGoth Gallery , Arts and Crafts Gallery and last but not least le Lavo//matik – that is also a book and music store run by charismatic Benoît Maître, who promotes many emerging artists. With the support of Jérôme Coumet, street art in 13th arrondissement flourished like nowhere else in Paris. Other than its majestic murals it is also known for a tiny village inside the city – la Butte aux Cailles. Many artists like to hang out in this neighbourhood, full of restaurants and bars, and the art on the streets keeps changing every day.

Furthermore, if you are in Paris during winter do not miss out on Chinese New Year Parade celebrated in 13th, which is also known as the Asian Quarter of the city.

Written by Kasia Klon

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Awesome post! Keep up the great work! 🙂

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