Cité Florale, A Secret Village in Paris 13th Arrondissement

A local’s guide to visiting the floral streets of the Cité Florale in the 13th Arrondissement of Paris; a village-like enclave with lots of greenery!

I love walking around Paris and coming across beautiful places I wasn’t aware of; I seem to remember that’s what happened last year with the Cité Florale in the 13th Arrondissement.

I recently went back there to see how it was during the fall; the only time I’d been before was in the summer, when it was in full bloom.

Colorful alleys and hidden village areas are something I love, whether I live in London, in Paris, or in Rome; and that’s exactly what you get with this tucked-away spot.

Cité Florale, A Secret Village in Paris 13th Arrondissement

The Cité Florale is located in the 13th arrondissement of Paris, a stone’s throw away from Parc Montsouris and the picturesque Place de Rungis.

Like the Petite Alsace, or the Quartier des Peupliers also situated in the 13th arrondissement, the Cité Florale feels like a secret village inside Paris, in a district usually famous for its Asian shops and restaurants.

The Cité Florale was built in 1928 on land that used to be a marshy floodplain of the now-buried Bièvre river.

The soil couldn’t support Haussmann-style buildings there, so only lightweight houses were built.

The village is located between Rue Brillat-Savarin, Rue Boussingault with its huge street art piece, and Rue Auguste Lançon; it’s easily accessible with the bus and the metro.

Nearby is also located the picturesque Butte aux Cailles area, also with a small town feel, and filled with colorful street art, stickers and murals.

Going back to the Cité Florale, you’ll notice the entire area has street names tied to plants and flowers, hence its name, Floral City.

There are actually only five streets in the Cité Florale:

• Rue des Orchidées, the first street you’ll come across when coming from
  Place de Rungis and Rue Brillat-Savarin
• Rue des Glycines
• Rue des Iris
• Rue des Liserons
• and Rue des Volubilis

There’s also a small square, Square des Mimosas, hidden inside the Cité Florale, and the whole of the area makes for one of the best photo spots in Paris.

I took these pictures at the end of the fall, and if you visit Paris in the spring, you’ll also come across colorful wisteria at the Cité Florale.

Rue des Orchidées, Cité Florale Paris 13

Rue des Glycines, Cité Florale Paris 13

Rue des Iris, Cité Florale Paris 13

Rue des Volubilis, Cité Florale Paris 13

Rue des Liserons, Cité Florale Paris 13

Cité Florale, Paris 13th Arrondissement Photo Gallery

Cité Florale, A Secret Village in Paris 13th Arrondissement

Strolling around the 13th Arrondissement has been a favorite of mine ever since I first lived in Paris, years and years ago – it still is.

And while the Cité Florale is quite far from what you’d expect from the 13th Arrondissement, what with its Chinatown area and stunning street art pieces, it’s great to visit when you want to break away from the hustle and bustle.

There are quite a few secret villages in Paris that you’ll love to discover if you’ve loved this spot:

• the Quartier des Peupliers nearby
• the Cité Leroy
• and colorful streets like Rue Crémieux close to Gare de Lyon

Close to the Cité Florale are also located hidden gardens like Jardin Charles Trenet and famous parks like Parc Montsouris.

A few minutes away, you’ll also come across the colorful Butte aux Cailles, with its winding streets, small bookshops, murals and stickers.

There are so many free things to do in Paris, too, like visiting great museums like Musée Carnavalet or Rivoli 59, or even unexpected spots like the Cloître des Billettes in the bucolic Marais area!