Who would have thought that a farm could be hidden right in the heart of Paris? And what’s more, in one of the city’s most heavily concreted arrondissements?But that’s the crazy project dreamed up by Jean-Noël Guetz! A former thermal engineer, Jean-Noël Guetz had the excellent idea of turning the capital’s forgotten parking lots into farms. After winning a call for projects by Paris City Hall in 2017, La Caverne was born. On more than 10,000 m² , button mushrooms, endives and a variety of vegetables live happily ever after. An unusual place for you to discover!
Paris’s largest underground farm hidden away in the 18th arrondissement
It used to be nothing more than a parking lot. But in the hands of Jean-Noël and his team, it has become an organic, eco-responsible farm. Completely cleaned, leached and depolluted, the parking lot has been transformed into a real farm, with impressive production. Over 50 tonnes of mushrooms and 60 tonnes of chicory are harvested every year! Enough to rival open-field farms!
But how does it work? Simply put, button mushrooms, oyster mushrooms and shiitake mushrooms grow on shelves, on certified organic straw. Lit by LEDs that gently mimic natural light, the shoots develop at their own pace. Once the produce is ready to eat, it’s delivered by bike to organic shops, markets and top restaurants. It couldn’t be fresher or more local!
By the way, if you’re curious about this place, you can visit it! In fact, a number of tours are available throughout the year, enabling you to learn more about the site and its cultivation techniques. An unusual place to discover!
📍 Location: 84 rue de la Chapelle – Métro Porte de la Chapelle exit 3 (Paris 18)