Paris is not short of charming streets and picturesque quarters. For decades, Montmartre has been its postcard-perfect hilltop darling. With its cobbled lanes, accordion buskers, and panoramic views from the Sacré-Cœur, it has lured generations of artists, romantics and, more recently, Instagrammers.

But as a writer for The Telegraph reported, Montmartre's whimsical beauty has come at a cost. Once a bohemian village within the city, the area is now overrun with iPhone-wielding tourists, drawn in by the candy-coloured scenes of Emily in Paris and the nostalgia of Amélie. One of the indicators of how tourism has reshaped the quarter is Place du Tertre, the central square where painters today create portraits for tourists. 

This scene forms a juxtaposition to Montmartre's 19th-century legacy - a time when struggling artists in the area crafted some of the most precious masterpieces in art history.

In an interview with The Times, Anne Renaudie, the head of a protest group called Vivre à Montmartre, or Montmartre Living, said: "We’ll be left with places selling crêpes and tacos to tourists and nothing for locals." Her group estimates that there are 423 tourists in Montmartre for each resident.

"It’s a simple calculation. The population is 26,000 and there are 11 million visitors each year," she added.

An alternative quartre to Montmartre has arisen - Belleville. 

Like Montmartre, the neighbourhood in the northeast of Paris once used to be a separate village before being absorbed by the city.

Unlike its more famous counterpart, Belleville has retained a raw, vibrant energy shaped by its diverse immigrant communities, including North African, Chinese, Armenian, and Jewish populations.

This melting pot has given rise to one of the most eclectic dining scenes in Paris, where traditional French bistros sit alongside bustling Asian eateries and vibrant street art decorates every corner. 

It's also the birthplace of La Commune - the socialist anarchist group that inspired philosopher Karl Marx, who described it as the first example of a dictatorship of the proletariat.

For those seeking a moment of tranquility, Parc des Buttes-Chaumont offers one of the best panoramic views in Paris, where the city’s skyline stretches out beneath a glowing sunset. 

A former resident wrote for Paris Unlocked: "Somewhat comparable to Manhattan owing to its cosmopolitan, bustling and often noisy vibe, Belleville also (paradoxically) feels like a village in many corners.

"It's an incredibly diverse, artistically charged area that doesn't really fit the idyllic (and largely fictional) image of the city most people carry around in their heads.

"Admittedly, you have to be accustomed to quite a bit of urban grit to see through some of the more unpleasant and even disturbing sides to the area – and I say that as a long-time resident who adores it." 

However, for those interested in multiculturalism and social movements, the area has a lot to offer and still remains somewhat overlooked by mainstream tourism.