“A beautiful town.” That is what Bellevue literally means. We are standing on Rue de Bellevue. It is a street with a fitting name.
Rue de Bellevue is located in the 19th arrondissement. This places it in Paris. The street begins at 72, rue Compans. It ends at 31, rue des Lilas. The street stretches for 295 meters. It is 12 meters wide.
The name Rue de Bellevue comes from its location. It sits on a height. From here, you get a very wide view. You can see Paris and the Plaine Saint-Denis. This area has been called Butte de Beauregard since the 18th century. This was because of the beautiful view.
Rue de Bellevue was mapped in 1812. This was on the cadastral plan of the old commune of Belleville. It was classified as part of the Parisian road system. A decree formalized this.
Belleville itself has a rich history. It was once an independent commune. Paris annexed it in 1860. Then, it was divided between two arrondissements. Belleville is on a hill. This hill is one of the highest points in Paris. Montmartre is the other.
Historically, Belleville was a working-class area. Residents played a big role in the Second French Republic. They took action during the Revolution of 1848. In 1871, Belleville residents strongly supported the Paris Commune. The Versailles Army faced tough resistance here. Fighting lasted in Belleville and Ménilmontant. The last barricade was said to be on Rue Ramponeau. This is also in Belleville.
In the 20th century, many immigrants came to Belleville. German Jews arrived in 1933. They were fleeing the Third Reich. Spaniards came in 1939. Algerians and Tunisian Jews arrived in the early 1960s.
Belleville has one of the largest Reformed Church of France congregations. The Église Réformée de Belleville has been here since before World War I.
Today, Belleville is multi-ethnic and vibrant. It is also home to one of Paris’s Chinatowns. The other Chinatown is in the 13th arrondissement. It’s near Place d’Italie. An important Chinese community has grown here since the 1980s. There are many Chinese restaurants, stores and associations. Every Tuesday and Friday, there is a popular outdoor market. It is on Boulevard de Belleville. Farmers from Île-de-France sell their goods here.
In the 1980s, artists and musicians moved to Belleville. Rents were cheaper. There were many vacant spaces. The area had old Paris charm. Belleville was spared from much of the architectural modernization of the 1960s and 1970s. The exception was the area around Place des Fêtes. Many artists now live and work in Belleville. Studios are scattered throughout the area. Some factories have become art squats. Bands like Les Rita Mitsouko started here.
Belleville is important for street art. Rue Denoyez and Place Fréhel are changing displays of street art.
The demographics of Belleville have changed. Armenians, Greeks and Ashkenazi Jews were once common. Now, North Africans and sub-Saharan Africans are more prevalent.
Belleville has a cemetery and a park. The Parc de Belleville ascends the western slope of the hill. It has panoramic views of the Paris skyline. Its modern style contrasts with classical gardens and the romantic Parc des Buttes Chaumont. A School of Architecture is also in Belleville.
Édith Piaf grew up in Belleville. Legend says she was born under a lamppost on Rue de Belleville. A plaque marks the spot at number 72. Piaf epitomized the accent de Belleville. It is compared to London’s Cockney accent. The Parisian dialect is rarely heard today. Belleville is featured in the film “La Vie En Rose.”
Other famous Belleville residents include Maurice Tourneur, Jane Avril, and Eddy Mitchell. The filmmaker Maïwenn also grew up in Belleville and still lives here.
Belleville has appeared in French songs. These include Eddy Mitchell’s “Belleville ou Nashville?” and Serge Reggiani’s “Le Barbier de Belleville.” Romain Gary’s book “La Vie Devant Soi” is also set in Belleville.
In 2016, Belleville was named one of the world’s unique neighborhoods. Belleville is also commemorated in Django Reinhardt’s work.
In Puccini’s opera “Il Tabarro,” lovers long for Belleville. They sing that they cannot live on the water.
The animated film “The Triplets of Belleville” was released in 2003. It was nominated for an Academy Award. Daniel Pennac’s Malaussène saga takes place in Belleville.
Belleville is served by the Metro stations Belleville, Pyrénées and Jourdain.
Several films have been shot in Belleville. These include “Monsieur Ibrahim,” “The Bourne Identity,” and “The Red Balloon.”
Rue de Bellevue offers a unique glimpse into this historic and vibrant neighborhood. Take a moment to appreciate its beauty and the stories it holds.