A fifty-metre wall for urban art, a church with a monumental staircase, and a former hamlet whose village atmosphere has endured urban change: Ménilmontant brings together different traces of its history and a varied cultural offering. When planning your visit, you can choose from a range of interests—from architecture and the past to contemporary art, music, workshops and a seasonal garden venue.
From Hamlet to Industrial District
Ménilmontant was initially a hamlet and later became a suburb. A village atmosphere endured despite urban change. When it was incorporated into Paris by Baron Haussmann in 1860, the area became an industrial and working-class district. The district’s history is therefore more than a succession of buildings: it traces a path from the former hamlet, through its incorporation into the city, to an environment shaped by industry and labour.
Artists also found inspiration here. Ménilmontant has inspired writers, musicians and filmmakers. This cultural history can be experienced alongside today’s offerings without reducing it to a single genre: art, music and architectural landmarks coexist in the district.
Art and Cultural Venues
The Pavillon Carré de Baudouin has been protected as a historic monument since 1928 and is a venue for contemporary artistic creativity. Its urban art offering includes a fifty-metre wall on Rue de Ménilmontant. The pavilion thus combines historic significance with a contemporary connection to art.
Les Plateaux Sauvages is a Paris municipal cultural venue in the heart of the 20th arrondissement. It is housed in a building that was renovated and inaugurated in 2018. The venue is located between Ménilmontant, Père-Lachaise and Gambetta. The Studio de l’Ermitage, meanwhile, hosts concerts of contemporary jazz and world music on the heights of Ménilmontant. It has room for 250 people. As the programme and capacity may change, check the latest information if you are planning to attend a concert.
Church Architecture and Architectural History
Construction of the Église Notre-Dame-de-la-Croix de Ménilmontant spanned several decades: work began in 1863, was interrupted by the events of the Paris Commune and was completed in 1880. The church had already been used for religious services from 1869. It is the third-largest church in Paris, after Notre-Dame and Saint-Sulpice.
Since 31 May 2017, the church as a whole has been protected as a historic monument—including its monumental staircase and the railings around it. Architecture enthusiasts will find not only the church building but also parts of its surroundings that are explicitly included in the protection. The construction dates also make clear that the start of use and completion did not occur at the same time.
A Section of the Petite Ceinture and Practical Information
An open section of the Petite Ceinture du 20e runs between Rue de la Mare and Rue de Ménilmontant. Access depends on opening periods, so plan your visit according to the applicable hours. For a different focus, the Théâtre des Gémeaux Parisiens offers specific accessibility information: its entrance is designed for optimal accessibility for people with reduced mobility. Check the practical arrangements again before your visit.
Seasonal Offering at 88 Ménilmontant
88 Ménilmontant is a seasonal, garden-style visitor venue with a bar and two food kiosks. Opening periods and offerings may vary from year to year. Since 2017, the annual seasonal programme has been accompanied by cultural and social gatherings. The public can also regularly take part in workshops there, including screen-printing workshops; themes and dates may vary by season.
The range of experiences therefore extends from long-standing historical traces to seasonal cultural offerings. For your stay, you can decide whether to allow more time for architecture and history, art and events, or a seasonal offering. Check dates and opening periods wherever your visit depends on them.
Discover more destinations: Gobelins, L'entrepot, Paris 11, Paris 9th Arrondissement, Paris 19th Arrondissement, 15th Arrondissement, 7th Arrondissement, Paris 8
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