Walking in the footsteps of art: 5 to 7 km cultural walks

What if we rediscovered our cities in a different way? Through the words of writers, the notes of singers, the colors of tagged walls... Every French city has its soul, its icons, its artists. SPART takes you on a walk - between 5 and 7 km - in the footsteps of the great names that have left their mark on French culture. Just follow the guide!

Paris - In the footsteps of Gainsbourg and the Left Bank writers

Theme: Literature and music

Start: Place Saint-Germain-des-Prés
Finish: Rue de Verneuil (Maison de Gainsbourg)
Distance: 6.5 km

Place Saint-Germain-des-Prés is the haunt of Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, Boris Vian, Juliette Gréco, and of course... Gainsbourg. The route crosses the Latin Quarter, skirts the Seine, and ends in front of Serge's famous graffitied house.

Don't miss :

• Le Café de Flore & Les Deux Magots
• The Shakespeare & Co bookshop
• Institut de France
• The Gainsbourg wall (Rue de Verneuil)
• Gainsbourg House

Lyon - Frescoes and street art at La Croix-Rousse

Theme: Graffiti and painted walls

Start : Mur des Canuts
Finish: Place des Terreaux
Distance: 5.8 km

Lyon is a benchmark when it comes to murals. This tour starts with Europe's largest trompe-l'œil, and heads down to the center, passing through the traboules, the slopes of the Croix-Rousse and the hidden works of Lyon's street art.

Don't miss :

• The Canuts Wall
• The Croix Rousse soft-mode tunnel (immersive street art)
• The fresco of famous Lyonnais
• The traboules of Vieux Lyon

Lille - In the footsteps of alternative artists and crazy houses

Theme: Alternative culture, architecture and hybrid places

Departure : Gare Saint-Sauveur
Finish : Wazemmes
Distance: 6.2 km

From the Gare Saint-Sauveur to the Maison Folie de Wazemmes, Lille is brimming with hybrid venues combining art, music, cuisine and entertainment. You can feel the imprint of the electro scene, alternative designers and street art.

Don't miss :

• La Gare Saint-Sauveur (exhibition and street food)
• Jean-Baptiste Lebas Park
• The narrow streets of Moulins
• Wazemmes market (Sundays)

Marseille - Between rap, poetry and colorful frescoes

Theme: Music and urban identity

Departure : Cours Julien
Finish : Le Panier
Distance : 6 km

Marseille rhymes with IAM, Massilia Sound System, Keny Arkana... But it's also a city of raw poetry. We start in the city's most colorful district, with its terraces and frescoes, and work our way down to the Panier, a historic stronghold of authentic charm.

Don't miss :

• Street art on the Cours Julien
• Rue d'Aubagne
• La Cannebière
• Les escaliers du Panier
• La friche Belle de Mai (optional)

Toulouse - Pink, Nougaro and the Garonne River

Theme: Music, poetry, Toulouse strolls

Start: Place du Capitole
Finish: Prairie des Filtres
Distance: 5.5 km

Toulouse is Claude Nougaro, the pink city, with its ochre facades and lively terraces. This leisurely tour follows the banks of the Garonne, passing a few tributes to the emblematic singer.

Don't miss :

• Le Capitole
• La Rue du Taur (tribute to Nougaro)
• The banks of the Garonne
• Pont Neuf and Prairie des Filtres

Want to personalize your ride?

• Jooks app offers cultural walks and runs
• The Street Art Cities website lets you find street art in every city.

To prolong the experience, we recommend you take along your headphones with a playlist adapted to the walk (Gainsbourg in Paris, IAM in Marseille, Nougaro in Toulouse...).

My name is Candice Lhomme and I've been Digital Marketing Manager at SPART since April 2024.

Passionate about artistic gymnastics and sports in general, I'm also a great lover of sunsets, good food and travel.

Through my articles, I hope to pass on a little of my good humor and my passions. Are you ready to discover simple ideas for feeling better every day?