Cité Leroy

We are now standing in Cité Leroy, a picturesque, green little street in the 20th arrondissement, close to Villa de l’Ermitage in Belleville. This hidden corner of Paris is only 60 metres long and about 4 metres wide and was created in 1869 by Michel Leroy during the construction of Boulevard des Pyrénées.

It has a village-like charm: small two- to three-storey houses, façades draped with flowers and climbing plants, and once a shared well and toilet for all residents. In 1992 and 2000, the street was threatened by redevelopment projects, but locals fought to preserve it. Thanks to their efforts, part of it survived and was turned into a shared garden and community space.