7 destinations for street art fans in France

Are you passionate about urban art? Wanderlix takes you to discover French destinations fans of street art.

Discovering street art in France is understanding that it draws its roots in the 1960s to Philadelphia . He knows a booming ten years later in Europe.

This previously forbidden artistic movement becomes a real way to let its creativity explode. Recognised artists from all over the world transform banal walls into real colorful works. The fans of street art, for their part, trace these works in every corner of the world's most beautiful cities. But sometimes, no need to go far to satisfy his curiosity.

Wanderlix has selected 7 French destinations for street art fans. Pliers!

1. Street Art City in Auvergne

Direction l’ Auvergne and more precisely the Allier for this first street art destination in France. “ Street art City "is one of the most atypical places to admire murals.

At the heart of this project, a playground of 7000 m2 where 300 artists from all over the world leave their imagination free. First of all, the exterior walls relate to high-colored achievements, including Hotel 128. The latter takes you to a unique experience for all street art lovers.

This building has 128 rooms, so far a hotel like others. However, if you take the risk of pushing the door of each of them, you will experience an immersive experience out of the ordinary. 128 micro galleries, each with its own world, its own message and its own codes.

2. Street art to Paris

Street art avenue — Canal Saint-Denis

Paris is undoubtedly one of the best street art destinations in France. Since 2016, the urban route " Street art avenue stretches over 5 km in Seine–Saint-Denis. Some 30 mural frescoes line the Canal Saint-Denis since Paris La Villette to the Stade de France in Saint-Denis. Contemporary art artists dress the bridges and walls of this post-industrial landscape with their pop and colorful works.

Throughout your walk, open your eye to recognize the achievements of the Jenial duo at the foot of the Thiers Bridge. Hydrane’s are hiding on the Gambetta dock barrier. Artists not only invest concrete walls. Indeed, the artist Dawal has transformed a truck-topic into a true artistic treasure. You may see it circulate in Paris with its new unique and trendy look.

Moreover, this route will become a strategic axis during the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. It will connect the sports equipment of the capital to those of Seine-Saint-Denis.

The Belleville area

In the 20th arrondissement of Paris, Belleville Park does not escape the phenomenon of street art in France. Moreover, it is even one of the precursors. The frescoes of street artists decorate the walls and pillars between nature and the city.

The connoisseurs will recognize the iconic children of street artist Seth on the posts of the viewpoint or the works of Kenor and El Pez. In addition to enjoying a breathtaking view of Paris, the mirador is a place of expression of street art as part of the “Belvedere des artistes”. »

Discovering street art in Paris, it is also getting lost in alleys. We recommend the rue Dénoyez, witness of this artistic and ephemeral wealth.

The Oberkampf wall

Wanderlix continues the discovery of street art in France with the wall Oberkampf invested by the collective M.U.R. This association is committed to promoting urban art in France, particularly in Bordeaux, Biarritz , Rennes or Strasbourg .

More than 250 street artists displayed their style between graffiti, street art and diversion in the 11th arrondissement. At the corner of St. Maur and Oberkampf Street, the urban beginners and artists confirmed like Ben, Miss Tic or Atlas leave their imagination free. Every two to three weeks, admire them live-painting for the greatest pleasure of passers-by and urban culture lovers.

The Urcq Canal

The Urcq Canal resembles an open-air art gallery between Paris and its suburbs. Along the “Art Route” in the Urcq, any support is conducive to the expression of urban art: facade, posting boxes, stairs or electric cabinets.

Your walk or bike ride will take you to the rue de l’Ourcq in front of a fully covered wall. Urban artists such as Doudou style, Sitou or Da Cruz, a local graffiti have left their mark there.

Moreover, the Graffart association organizes many events around urban art. Small and large are inspired by graff or mosaic through initiation workshops.

Vitry-sur-Seine : Vitryne du street art

We finish this round of street art in Paris with the Vytrine of street art in Vitry-sur-Seine a few kilometers south of the capital. Vitry-sur-Seine has a beautiful collection of graffiti on every street corner since the 1990s. Christian Guemy or C215 contributes to the development of this colored gallery since 2009. In addition, their works even cross the Atlantic to Los Angeles or our Italian neighbours to Rome .

Also discover the monumental fresco of Kouka Ntadi, a Franco-Congolese artist scattered on several façades of Henri Barbusse Avenue. An Irish artist Fin Dac also leaves his mark in the cooler area. Promise, we're not telling you everything! Locate by yourself the achievements of Pixel Pancho, Fin Badd, Indigo or Kashink at the turn of a street.

3. Street art to Bordeaux

The Darwin space

Welcome to the Darwin space at the edge of the Garonne on the right bank of Bordeaux . Once occupied by the military, the Niel barracks became the Darwin camp in the 2000s. A real field of expression for grass artists, but not only. Under the impulse of the Evolution group, skater, hip-hop dancers and of course graffiti now let their creativity explode.

In this important scene of Bordeaux culture, you can drink a drink, eat at the restaurant, explore the responsible shops, enjoy the skate park and of course admire some of the most beautiful street art works in France. Moreover, it is these murals that attract projectors to this atypical place. Your eyes want to land everywhere so much art is omnipresent during your urban walk. Let yourself go to the contemplation of the works of Skou 1995, Mimil, Jeff Soto, Laurence Vallière or the pinsons of Darwin at the back of the skate park.

M.U.R aux Chartrons

We mentioned this before, the association M.U.R deploys its wings in different cities of France. In the southwest, she puts her suitcases (or her graffles) on a 35 sqm chart at the Chartrons. Original and ephemeral, these unique works borrow the formats and rituals of advertising display. They fit so well in the architecture of the neighborhood that it has become a must-see place in Bordeaux.

Moreover, Jef Aérosol inaugurated the MUR with one of these creations in 2014. This Bordeaux artist gained recognition thanks to his giant fresco on the face of the CHU. He wants to raise public awareness of breast cancer screening.

4. Street Art to Lyon

The Croix-Rousse district

The district of Croix-Rousse begins its artistic epiopae under the impulse of students of Fine Arts. From their creative genius even the famous "fresque des Lyonnais". Today, the slopes of the famous Lyon hill remain a privileged terrain for the various urban artists.

Ephemeral works renew the beauty of these places and the desire to stroll regularly. You will cross the look of David Bowie Street Neyret or the very popular Mermet stairs transformed by Wenc. The Prunelle stair is also adorned with acid colours thanks to the volunteer residents of the neighbourhood. Each corner hides a pop reference from Happy Curio or then geek mosaics from In the Woop.

Offside Gallery

The Offerside Gallery has been offering a whole new face of urban art since 2016. This art gallery within the Groupama Stadium welcomes every month artists confirmed or emerging from all over the world. Produced in the cultural enclosure, the offer to the public is constantly renewed. It makes him one of the favorite places of street art lovers. They walk around 1800 m2 of painted surface, making it completely colored walls!

5. Street art to Montpellier

Quais du Verdanson

For over 20 years, the Verdanson docks have been a paradise for all street art lovers in France. This atypical place gathers 4 km of numerous pepits that regularly renew. The canal walls offer a second youth under the bombs of the artists of the moment. Much more than a new dressing, this perpetual creation place gives another breath on the long canal. Moreover, you will surely cross graffiti in the middle of work during your urban walk.

Quartier de l’écusson

Well known to the Montpelliérains, the stable district represents the neuralgic heart of the old town. The holidaymakers and locals come to drink a drink, go shopping or visit these cultural places.

During your discovery of the city, rise your eyes just for a moment. A completely different facet of the “surdous” city of its little name will unfold before you. Graffiti, mosaic or collage, the culture of street art is revealed in all its forms. Nothing escapes the blow of brush or graff from the artists from the ground to the ceiling, passing through the walls.

Here, no imposing murals, but small hidden works such as Charlie in the eponymous book. Some achievements even become cults like the mosaics of Space Invaders characters or the bikes hung by Mr BMX.

6. Street art to Marseille

The Friche de la belle Mai

As soon as you lay your feet at the "frche de la belle Mai", you feel the omnipresence of street art. This former tobacco factory rehabilitated in a cultural place welcomes many colourful frescoes, pokers or collages within it.

Much more than a place of expression, you walk in a space where families enjoy skate park, basketball court or shared gardens. Urban artists animate this place of 100,000 m2 in perpetual movement.

The shopping area

Older neighborhood of Marseille, the neighborhood of Cart attracts all street art lovers or even the curious eager to get out of the beaten paths. Street art resides wherever you pose your eyes.

Take a look at the colorful alleys to discover the achievements of known graffiti artists such as Brazil's Nhobi. After your stroll, we recommend a stop at the concept store and street art gallery Undartground. You'll see the famous fisherman.

Le cours Julien

Colours and colors in the course of Julien since the 1980s just a step from the Old Port. Each corner of the most tagged street in the world (according to the Marseillais) welcomes more original creations than others. Doors, stairs, facades of shops offer a new fronture for a few weeks.

We recommend you go there on Sunday when the shops are closed to admire the iron curtains take life. This ephemeral art takes you regularly to meet new artists from the urban scene. Among the best known in the Ju course as the premises call it, C215, Monsieur Chat or Mahn Kloix.

In 2014, the Fédération Marseille Centre launched the first edition of the street art festival of the Julien course. Artists created in live painting under the attentive eye of locals and urban art enthusiasts.

7. The walls painted in Angoulême

The capital of the comics, Angouleme initiates a vast program of BD murals on the walls of his city. Street art is thus entangled with the world of comics throughout an urban journey founded by Cité Création. About thirty painted walls are a tourist route recognized by those who crowd the paved of Angouleme.

Kirikou, Tintin or Gaston Lagaff tell a story unpublished to the one who finds their location in the city. Behind these achievements are the winners of the Grand Prix of the Angouleme BD Festival. A beautiful way of exposing his art under a new day in the eyes of all.

The street art takes a place everywhere in France for the one who will find the pegs around him. Which destination will you choose to discover artists from all over the world?