An open gallery north of Paris
While most visitors to Paris looking for graffiti or street art will look in the Marais, Belleville or Montmartre, a quiet but powerful artistic revolution is taking place north of the center. Along the Canal Saint-Denis, which stretches from La Villette to the Stade de France, a very impressive urban art route is emerging Street Art Avenue
This is an ongoing cultural initiative, which was born in the run-up to Euro 2016 and has since gained tremendous momentum. Dozens of local and international artists were asked to transform the canal walls, bridges, warehouses and abandoned buildings into a colorful urban gallery, and thus a route of several kilometers was born that invites a walk or bike ride in an atmosphere completely different from that of central Paris.
Street art on a massive scale
Unlike the small stencils or miniature stickers that characterize other areas of the city, here we are talking about large murals, some spanning dozens of meters. The industrial walls have become a free stage for expression, resulting in works that speak to society, the environment, politics and local identity.
Among the artists who have left their mark on the place are international names such as Jace, Kashink, Koralie & Supakitch, Da Cruz and Marko 93, a resident of Saint-Denis himself, who has made the area his artistic home.
Discover hidden works on the map
An open-air route experience
A walk along the canal is a sensory experience: on the one hand, the water, the boats and the industrial atmosphere, and on the other, a wealth of color and shapes. Every few dozen meters, a new work is discovered – huge portraits, comic characters, abstract shapes, collages and sharp social messages.
The route is particularly suitable for cycling or a leisurely walk during the day, and every time you return, new works will be discovered, as some of the walls are replaced by renewable projects and seasonal festivals.
Why here?
Saint-Denis is considered a multicultural, vibrant and challenging suburb. The choice to place a huge street art project here is not accidental. The goal was to transform an industrial and gray area into a space that connects local residents, artists and visitors. Art allows us to reappropriate public space, break stigmas and reveal the creative side of the area.
It also connects two important cultural centers: Parc de la Villette in the south and Stade de France in the north. This creates a cultural and artistic bridge that connects Paris with the suburbs, and opens up a window for visitors to a different reality of the city.
How to get there and what you should know
Recommended starting point: Parc de la Villette Metro Porte de Pantin or Porte de la Villette
Length of the route: about 5 km, to Stade de France.
Method: You can walk or rent a bike
Duration of visit: 2-3 hours at a leisurely pace, depending on how many stops you make to take pictures
Tip: It is advisable to arrive during the day and plan a stop at the cafes around Stade de France or in the center of Saint-Denis
Street Art Avenue is much more than a collection of murals – it is an ongoing cultural project that connects art, community and public space. Here you are exposed to a world where graffiti is not seen as vandalism but as a tool for creating a collective identity, local pride and social criticism. For those who love street art, this is a must-see destination: a route less known to the average tourist, but one that opens the mind and gives a different perspective on Paris and its surroundings.
Among the artists whose works appear in the series of posts on street art in Paris:
SETH (Julien Malland), C215 (Christian Guémy), Vhils (Alexandre Farto), KASHINK (Maëva Martinez), Vale_Stencil (Valérian Lenud), The Pop Suréalist, The End of Animals (THE END), L’Empreinte Jo V (La Dactylo), IPDO (I Pixel di Oplontis), Mathieu 1976 (Mathieu Dussaucy), DJERADI LUDOVIC (Ludovic Djeradi), JR, Invader, Miss.Tic, Jef Aérosol, Blek Le Rat, Speedy Graphito, Hopare, Astro, Ardif, Ludo, Levalet (Charles Leval), Jo Di Bona, Monsieur Chat (Thoma Vuille), Zevs, Combo CK (Combo Culture Kidnapper), Alëxone Dizac, Tilt, Lek & Sowat, L’Atlas, Romain Froquet, Philippe Baudelocque, Jérôme Mesnager, Vinie Graffiti, Kalouf, Maye, A-MO, Clet Abraham, OakOak, Ender, Mosko et Associés, Codex Urbanus, Ella & Pitr, Dourone, Shaka (Marchal Mithouard), Raphael Federici, Pboy, Sismikazot, Kurar, Gregos, Tarek, Jace, Nasty, Doudou Style, FKDL, RNST, Zepha, Jerk 45, Onemizer, Bault, Polar Bear, Céz Art, Guy Denning, SP38, Zeer, Dume, Tanc, Kaldea, Antistatik, Reso, Woizo, MadC, Jober, Abys, Guaté Mao, Psyckoze, MonkeyBird Crew, Mantra, Aude Villerouge, Loraine Motti, Jean Faucheur, Jibé, Bom.K, Gris1, Aéro, JBC, Le MoDuLe De ZeeR, D*Face, Shepard Fairey, Banksy, 2Shy, Aroe, Babs, Bates, Brusk, Can2, Case Maclaim, Chanoir, Create, Darco, Dize, Gyz, Insane 51, Jaba, Jonone, Katre, Marko 93, Noé2One Mizer, Pro176, Remio, Schuck2, Snake, T-Kid, Tony Noel, Vision, Zenoy
Paris Street Art Map
Street Art in Le Marais Paris
Street Art Along Canal de l’Ourcq
LUDOVIC – Urban Chaos
Mathieu 1976 – Angels in Paris
IPDO – The Smurfs on the Wall
The Women of L’Empreinte Jo V
The Pop Suréalist
KASHINK – Paris’ Female Voice
Spot 13 – Paris
La Promenade Plantée – Paris
Street Art Avenue Paris
Street Art in Montmartre
The Giant Mural Project in Paris
THE END OF ANIMALS
The Belleville Character
VHILS – Carved in Stone
59 Rivoli – Alternative Art in Paris
The Children of SETH


