Aubervilliers – Culture and History

When looking for hotels in Aubervilliers, you can plan around the city’s cultural venues, history and heritage cycling routes. Highlights range from Notre-Dame-des-Vertus church and Fort d’Aubervilliers to theatre, cinema, exhibitions and music. Two heritage cycling loops start at the town hall, and there is also an urban promenade along the Canal Saint-Denis. Consider whether you would prefer to plan your stay around historic buildings, a cultural programme or the two cycling loops.

Church, Fort and Industrial History

Notre-Dame-des-Vertus is classified as a historic monument and houses the only early 17th-century organ still in use in Île-de-France. The church’s 17 stained-glass windows are also part of its history: they depict a miracle, pilgrimages and other miracles. Another chapter in the city’s history recalls its agricultural past. The Maison de culture Mazier is the last surviving testimony to this past in Aubervilliers.

Fort d’Aubervilliers was built between 1843 and 1846 as part of the fortifications protecting Paris. Today, it is a place for everyday life and cultural events. The 45-metre-high chimney of the Manufacture des Allumettes is also a protected industrial monument: it has been protected as a historic monument since April 2005.

Theatre, Music and Cultural Venues

Théâtre équestre Zingaro has been based at Fort d’Aubervilliers since 1989. The company’s performances are created and presented there. Equestrian theatre, dance, world music, poetry and other artistic disciplines come together in these performances. Théâtre de la Commune is another landmark in the city’s theatre history: it became the first Centre dramatique national in the Paris suburbs.

Le Point Fort d’Aubervilliers is dedicated to the creation, production, distribution, introduction and passing on of world music, as well as traditional forms of music and dance. Important for planning: Le Point Fort is open during events. You can get there on Metro line 7, alighting at Fort d’Aubervilliers station, or by bus routes 134, 152, 173, 234, 248, 250 and 330.

In the Quatre-Chemins neighbourhood, Les Laboratoires d’Aubervilliers offers a publicly accessible space for exhibitions and gatherings in a former factory. Les Poussières is a place for culture, meeting and creative work. Its programme ranges from performances, concerts and sound-based events to workshops, including cooking activities and collaborative creative work. Villa Mais d’Ici is a local cultural hub and a multidisciplinary venue for developing visual and performing arts. Its regular programme, open to the neighbourhood, involves local residents.

At L’Embarcadère, theatre, circus and stand-up performances share the bill with touring concerts; the venue also hosts local, community and municipal events. Cinema Le Studio screens art-house films in their original language, family films and films for very young audiences. It also regularly holds preview screenings and screenings with discussions or introductions on a range of topics, in collaboration with local and municipal organisations. As the programme may change, it is worth checking the latest listings before going to the cinema.

Promenade and Cycling Loops

The right bank of the Canal Saint-Denis has been transformed into an urban promenade. It includes two parks: Aimé-Césaire Park to the south and Eli-Lotar Park to the north. The heritage cycling routes comprise two loops starting at the town hall, one to the east and one to the west of the city, on either side of the Canal Saint-Denis. The main difference between the routes is their direction: you can choose an eastern or western loop when planning your visit.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Romainville, Neuilly-sur-Marne, Stains, Saint-Ouen, Tremblay-En-France, Villemomble, Clichy-sous-Bois, Sevran.

For the main travel guide: Seine-Saint-Denis.