Focus On Paris

22 March 2025

Soaring Saturday

L'Église Saint-Eustache de Paris, where gothic grandeur meets heavenly heights.

21 March 2025

Friday faces

Ever-changing graffiti climbs a wall.

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Rue Dénoyez, tucked away in the vibrant Belleville neighborhood of Paris’ 20th arrondissement is often simply dubbed, "The Graffiti Street.” Some years ago it appeared it would see its last stencil, but it held fast: locals wanted to keep their dazzling open-air gallery where urban art reigns supreme, a 156-meter-long alley-like street that no matter what time of year, bursts with color, its walls plastered with ever-changing murals, tags and street art. And sometimes, among the chaos, masterpieces crafted by local and international artists could be spotted. Once home to abandoned shops, today it's a creative hotspot where spray cans (legally) hum as fresh works overwrite the old, ensuring no two visits are the same. Despite past threats from redevelopment - like the 2014 push for social housing and a nursery - it’s held on to its rebellious soul, blending gritty charm with a community feel. Just steps from the Belleville metro, it’s a must-see for art lovers who crave a raw, unpolished slice of Paris’ underground culture. - BPJ