Behind the Door: A Garden and a Mission

The colourful facade is the public face of something more meaningful. Behind it sits a small, lushly planted garden wedged between two buildings — dozens of potted plants, a long wooden communal table, and artwork including a portrait by Argentine street artist Manolo Mesa. The space was once an abandoned lot where trash was dumped and people slept rough.↗↗↗

The collective that opened the site in December 2015 brought together activists, artists, neighbours, and people who had themselves been sleeping on the street. Their founding goal was to provide short-term shelter while helping residents find permanent housing. Though the overnight hosting function paused around 2019 for lack of volunteers, the space still operates as a daytime welcome point: coffee, food redistribution from local shops, and open doors for anyone passing through.↗↗

On Wednesday and Saturday afternoons, the garden is open to visitors. The rest of the time, the external wall remains freely accessible 24 hours a day, and you are welcome to admire the current mural and soak up the atmosphere of this pocket of the Oberkampf neighbourhood.↗↗

What to Look For

Since you never know which artist will be on the wall in any given month, the thrill is in the surprise. Past works have ranged from photorealistic animal portraits and vibrant 3D lettering to large-scale geometric abstractions and pop-culture references. The quality is consistently high for a free public wall, and the project has earned a place on Street Art Cities' hall of fame.↗↗↗

If you arrive on an open afternoon, ask to see the garden — the interior walls are equally graffitied, the plant-filled courtyard is a hidden green corner in a dense urban district, and the people there are usually happy to explain what the project means to them.↗

Getting There and Visiting Tips

The wall sits at 9 Rue des Trois Couronnes, deep in the 11th arrondissement between Belleville and Oberkampf stations (line 2). The street itself is narrow and residential, so the mural stands out immediately as you walk the short block. There is no ticket, no crowd, and no fixed schedule — just turn up and see what's on.↗↗

Pair your visit with a walk through the nearby Oberkampf and Fontaine-au-Roi streets, where other large murals and the city's graffiti scene cluster. If you arrive on a Wednesday or Saturday afternoon, look for the open gate and step inside — but be respectful of the residents and volunteers who use the space daily.↗↗

Check the Collectif 3 Couronnes social media pages or the Street Art Cities marker before your visit if you want to know who is painting that month; the collective typically announces each new facade with a monthly open-door event.↗↗