Starting point for the walk: the Stade de France, which will be hosting the athletics, rugby à 7 and para athletics events at the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Opposite the stadium, the Saint-Denis Aquatic Centre hosts the artistic swimming, diving and water polo Olympic athletes.
Along the way, visit the Cathedral Basilica of Saint-Denis, a jewel of Gothic art and the last home of the kings and queens of France. Then discover the Paul Eluard Museum of Art and History, housed in a 17th-century Carmelite monastery. The walk also takes you to new and unusual places such as la Fabrique de la Ville, offering a glimpse of the archaeological excavations of Saint-Denis or la Street Art Avenue, an open-air urban art trail along the Saint-Denis canal. Another curiosity is a visit to the Fondation Jean Cherqui** in Aubervilliers, with its exceptional collection of optical and kinetic art. Conclude your walk with a visit to an urban farm and enjoy a meal at the MOB House restaurant, a stone's throw from the Saint-Ouen flea market.
© Pascal Lemaitre
Start with a visit to one of the city's heritage treasures, Saint-Denis. A jewel of Gothic art and a royal necropolis, the Cathedral Basilica of Saint-Denis houses the tombs of the kings and queens of France. It was built in the 12th and 13th centuries to house royal tombs, and contains over 70 of them. Discover the sculpted tombs of Dagobert, François 1er, Henri II and Catherine de Médicis as well as Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette. The basilica is also home to some exceptional stained-glass windows and offers a cultural programme of exhibitions, shows, concerts and workshops.
© Saad Ellaoui
To continue exploring the heritage of Saint-Denis, visit the Musée d'art et d'histoire Paul Éluard. The museum is housed in the former Carmelite monastery founded in 1625 and in the Carmelite Chapel, built in 1779 at the request of Louis XV's daughter, herself a Carmelite nun at Saint-Denis. Discover these monuments and the museum's rich collections. Explore the history of the Carmelite convent**, the town of Saint-Denis, the Commune of 1871, the Hôtel-Dieu apothecary and the life and work of the surrealist poet Paul Éluard.
Right next to the Musée d'art et d'histoire Paul Éluard, pass by la Fabrique de la Ville, an unusual and educational site dedicated to archaeology and excavations. Made up of two houses that have survived for six centuries, the scaffolding invites visitors to discover the evolution of the town's architecture from the 15th century to the present day. The scaffolding is covered in a stunning white mushroom with red polka dots designed by architects Patrick Bouchain and Loïc Julienne, Pierre Schneider and François Wunschel. It leads to a belvedere perched 20 metres high, offering a panoramic view of the city of Saint-Denis.
© CDT 93
Here's a place that urban fresco lovers will love. The Street Art Avenue is an open-air route along the Saint-Denis Canal, between the Stade de France and the Parc de la Villette. Street artists have been invited to create urban art frescoes made up of graffiti, collages, paintings or stencils. On the banks of the canal, you'll discover almost forty monumental works that are unique in the Paris region. Among the artists involved in creating Street Art Avenue are Guate Mao, Sœurs Chevalme, Amoor, Skio, Jeniale, Dawal, Seth, Zest, Telmo Miel, Tarek Benaoum, Polar and Marko93.
© Cherqui Foundation
Head to Aubervilliers, a town next to Saint-Denis, and enter the former pharmaceutical laboratories of Jean Cherqui, pharmacologist and art collector. This unusual place is home to exceptional collections of kinetic and optical art, comprising 5,000 works by internationally renowned artists. Immerse yourself in the magic of optical illusions and discover an artistic, immersive, interactive and fun tour, ideal for a family visit.
© DR Ferme Urbaine Permapolis
Back to Saint-Denis for a visit to the Permapolis urban farm, which produces and sells herbal teas. The plants are grown on the terraces of the Bourse du Travail and the Centre administratif, using permaculture principles. The different parts of the plants - leaves, flowers and fruit - are dried before being put into bags and consumed as herbal teas. You can order the herbal teas of your choice from our online shop.
© Grégoire Gardette
Just a stone's throw from the marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen, the world's largest antique and second-hand goods market, enjoy a meal at the French brasserie Feuille de Chou. This restaurant is located in the MOB House, an ecological and social hotel. Certified organic, the Feuille de Chou restaurant offers French cuisine with simple dishes made using fresh, seasonal local produce from local market gardeners and producers. For a meal that's both delicious and healthy.
