Les vignes de Paris: discover the capital's wine heritage

Published by Margot de Sortiraparis · Photos by Margot de Sortiraparis · Published on August 13, 2023 at 02:32 p.m.
Vineyards in Paris? Yes, you can find them, and in fact, in several places in the capital. Little known, they bear witness to the importance of grape growing in Paris several centuries ago, and are still cultivated and harvested every year! Let's discover them?

Centuries ago, France was known for three great wine regions: Burgundy, Bordeaux and... Paris. Yes, the capital was a benchmark for wine, especially at a time when wine was of poor quality and consumed on a par with water (sometimes even by children).

In those days, the capital was home to a number of vineyards, which have now disappeared: we now have more than a dozen, the best known of which is the vineyard of Montmartre, for its annual Vendanges festival. But they can also be found all over the capital: in the 19th arrondissement, on the Butte Bergeyre; in the 12th, in the heart of the Parc de Bercy; in the 15th, in the Parc Georges Brassens; and in Belleville, in the eponymous park.

If these vines are planted in the heart of our Parisian parks, it's because they're not the remnants of the capital's former winegrowing operations, but rather these "new" vines were planted a posteriori, in the 20th century, in the historic districts of Parisian vineyards. In some years, the Mairie de Paris (which manages the city's vineyards) even offers to harvest gra pes in the capital's vineyards. All the vineyards are very accessible, at least from a visual point of view, as guided tours are only offered in the Montmartre vineyards.

So, while you're out and about in one of your favorite neighborhoods (Butte Bergeyre, Bercy, Montmartre, Vaugirard, Belleville), take the opportunity to discover our capital's vineyards!

Paris vineyards: (non-exhaustive list)

Le parc Georges Brassens, pour se croire à la campagne dans le 15e - image00026Le parc Georges Brassens, pour se croire à la campagne dans le 15e - image00026Le parc Georges Brassens, pour se croire à la campagne dans le 15e - image00026Le parc Georges Brassens, pour se croire à la campagne dans le 15e - image00026 Discover Clos des Morillons, the vineyards of Parc Georges Brassens, in the 15th arrondissement of Paris
Parc Georges Brassens, one of the most bucolic parks in Paris, boasts many vines. And it's no coincidence that the Vaugirard district has a long history of winegrowing! Discover the history of Clos des Morillons, the only vineyard in the 15th arrondissement. [Read more]

Vignes Montmartre - image00034Vignes Montmartre - image00034Vignes Montmartre - image00034Vignes Montmartre - image00034 A stroll through the Clos Montmartre vineyard, the oldest vines in Paris
Just a few minutes' walk from Sacré-Coeur, near the Lapin Agile cabaret, stands a vineyard on a rather steep slope below the Montmartre hill. This is the Clos de Montmartre, the vineyard of the eponymous district and, above all, a major witness to the district's winegrowing past. [Read more]

Vignes vendanges - visuels - image00016Vignes vendanges - visuels - image00016Vignes vendanges - visuels - image00016Vignes vendanges - visuels - image00016 Discover Clos des Chaufourniers, the little secret vineyard perched on the Butte Bergeyre (19th district)
They're certainly the most discreet of the capital's five vineyards: the small Butte Bergeyre vineyard is relatively unknown to Parisians, and for good reason: it's perched on a bucolic knoll in the heart of the 19th arrondissement. [Read more]

Vignes vendanges - visuels - image00016Vignes vendanges - visuels - image00016Vignes vendanges - visuels - image00016Vignes vendanges - visuels - image00016 A walk to discover Bercy's small vineyard
In the 12th arrondissement, in the heart of the Jardin Yithzak Rabin, right in the middle of Parc de Bercy, lies a small vineyard, planted here in memory of the neighborhood's winegrowing past. Take a stroll through the Parc de Bercy and discover it for yourself! [Read more]

Vignes de Belleville - image00007Vignes de Belleville - image00007Vignes de Belleville - image00007Vignes de Belleville - image00007 Explore the Belleville vineyard, the capital's thousand-year-old vines
On the 20th arrondissement side, in the Parc de Belleville, you'll find vines that are harvested every year in September or October. Open to visitors from time to time, it's a great opportunity to discover these magnificent vines, unique in the 20th arrondissement! [Read more]

All the harvest festivals and other vine-related news:

Fête de la Vigne au parc du SaussetFête de la Vigne au parc du SaussetFête de la Vigne au parc du SaussetFête de la Vigne au parc du Sausset La Fête de la Vigne 2023, a free outing to Parc du Sausset (93)
On Sunday, October 1, Parc du Sausset celebrates vines and local produce at a free event for the whole family! [Read more]

Discover the Parc du Sausset in Aulnay-sous-Bois, the 2nd largest green space in Seine-Saint-Denis
In the Seine-Saint-Denis département, near Aulnay-sous-Bois and Villepinte, you'll find the second largest park in the département: the Parc Départemental du Sausset. [Read more]

Vignoble Hôtel de Ville - IMG 9237Vignoble Hôtel de Ville - IMG 9237Vignoble Hôtel de Ville - IMG 9237Vignoble Hôtel de Ville - IMG 9237 Discover the first vineyard perched on the roof of a historic building in the Marais district of Paris.
While the vineyards of Montmartre are well known, there are others that are far more unusual. Recently, vines have been planted on the roof of a historic building in the Marais district, and you can visit them! [Read more]

Le Clos des ArènesLe Clos des ArènesLe Clos des ArènesLe Clos des Arènes Le Clos des Arènes, hidden vineyards in the heart of the Arènes de Lutèce in Paris
In the 6th arrondissement, the Arènes de Lutèce is one of those suspended places that still retains all its charm from ancient times. This is where you'll find some of the rarest vines in Paris, to be discovered adorned with beautiful bunches of grapes as the harvest season approaches. [Read more]

La Fête de la vigne à Suresnes La Fête de la vigne à Suresnes La Fête de la vigne à Suresnes La Fête de la vigne à Suresnes Fête de la Vigne à Suresnes 2023: escape game, games, concert and tasting!
The Fête de la Vigne awaits you from September 30 to October 1, 2023 in Suresnes. This event celebrates the unique vineyards of the Île-de-France region, while spotlighting the painter Pierre-Joseph Redouté, nicknamed the "Raphael of Flowers". Discover the free program. [Read more]

Vignes vendanges - visuels - image00018Vignes vendanges - visuels - image00018Vignes vendanges - visuels - image00018Vignes vendanges - visuels - image00018 Carnival, grape harvest and free entertainment for children at the Fête des Vendanges in Bagneux (92)
On Saturday September 23 and Sunday September 24, the whole of Bagneux (92) gathers around its not-to-be-missed back-to-school party: the Fête des Vendanges. So get ready for two days of free activities, concerts and shows, open to all! [Read more]

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