Square Antoine Blondin walks

A stroll through the 20th and 19th arrondissements of Paris, taking in their diverse neighbourhoods. We cross Ménilmontant, roughly following the old Petite Ceinture railway line, then take a look at the old Belleville aqueduct. The neighbourhood around Rue de la Mouzaïa reveals its sloping streets lined with small houses decorated with flowers. We finish at the edge of the Bassin de la Villette and the Canal Saint-Denis.

Of all the cemeteries in Paris, Charonne Cemetery is the smallest, but the walk to reach it is the longest. This peaceful, tree-lined cemetery, situated next to the charming church of Charonne, is the final resting place of several notable figures, particularly from the worlds of literature, theatre and cinema. A tribute is paid here to the federates who were shot in 1871.

A route that, in a highly urbanised environment, favours alleys and other passageways, as well as public parks, and runs alongside several areas of shared or allotment gardens. It is also an opportunity to pay tribute to the mathematicians and activists Josette and Maurice Audin, victims of the abuses that took place during the Algerian War.

An urban route that favours alleys, passageways and public gardens, in search of 19th and 20th century heritage.

A walk through the 11th and 12th arrondissements of Paris, in search of depictions of animals. These are not distributed evenly along the entire route. The walk ends on a high note with the gigantic bas-relief on the Palais de la Porte Dorée, which depicts, amongst other things, an extremely diverse array of wildlife.

A south-north crossing of the 11th and 20th arrondissements of Paris, in search of animal representations. Several alleys and passageways bear witness to the former presence of numerous workshops in these neighbourhoods.

A visit to the highest-altitude cemetery within Paris city limits, which boasts a rich variety of plant life and is home to the graves of several notable figures. A monument within the cemetery and a church outside it evoke a painful episode in the history of the Paris Commune.

Paris’s 20th arrondissement is a working-class, lively and multicultural area. It is characterised by a high degree of social diversity and a strong artistic identity, with artists’ studios and alternative cultural venues. However, there are notable differences in atmosphere, urban layout and population between the north and south of the arrondissement. The cosmopolitan north of the arrondissement features a dense urban fabric, sloping streets, modest buildings and street art. It includes the Belleville and Ménilmontant neighbourhoods, with their relaxed, bohemian atmosphere. Here you’ll find one of Paris’s major parks, the Parc de Belleville, which offers a panoramic view of the capital, as well as peaceful little gardens.

In this first section of our "Brassens" walk, we first pass through the Belleville and Ménilmontant neighbourhoods, with their narrow streets, footpaths and stairways. Then, after crossing the symbol-rich Place de la République, we walk along the charming Canal Saint-Martin.

Originally from Sète, Georges Brassens (1921–1981) lived in Paris for around forty years and frequently referred to the city in his songs. This route takes you through Paris, passing by places where Brassens lived or worked, as well as sites that are directly or indirectly linked to some of his songs. Rich in heritage and passing through a variety of neighbourhoods, this city route is not just for die-hard ‘Brassens fans’.