It’s a neighborhood known by Parisians and tourists and yet not many of them dare to visit it. We agree on this, it’s far from the center but the Les Batignolles neighborhood yet provides beautiful walks and lovely green areas making it look like a small village in the countryside.
First, there’s the square des Batignolles where you can stop and wander around under the trees of various species or all along the river and the lake. Behind this rolling park, Napoleon III who wanted to bring English gardens in Paris, after being charmed by the idea when visiting England.
All around the park, go and discover the Les Batignolles neighborhood. We could feel in a small village with the Eglise Sainte-Marie des Batignolles, its small squares, its markets, its flee markets and the many bars and restaurants. What a sweet life! By the way, many artists have been inspired and made the best of it. Verlaine spent a part of his youth in the Les Batignolles, Mallarmé and Zola lived there so did Barbara and Jacques Brel.
Wandering around, I bet you’ll run into the discreet Cité des Fleurs in the Epinettes neighborhood. A pedestrian and private street (but ask a local to let you in!), lined with bourgeois houses and private mansions with green gardens. We even have a school and a church. A genuine village on its own!
