Rue de Saint-Quentin in the 10th arrondissement, the straight, bustling artery slicing between Gare du Nord and Gare de l’Est.
The scene: classic Haussmannian buildings in soft beige with wrought-iron balconies and mansard roofs, a long row of bikes and scooters parked tightly along the curb, wet pavements mirroring the gray-perle sky. Scents of fresh coffee, warm bread, and rain-soaked stone mix in the air. Terraces with red awnings (hello, Brasserie des Belges), hotel signs like Hôtel des Belges, and the quick steps of locals heading to the stations or the marché.
Quick history: Originally called “rue des Magasins” in the 1820s (due to the nearby freight warehouses tied to the expanding railways), it was renamed Rue de Saint-Quentin by ministerial decree on May 26, 1847, in honor of the northern French town of Saint-Quentin in the Aisne department, a nod to the Gare du Nord connection linking Paris to the north. Opened in stages from the 1820s onward, it became a practical link between Boulevard de Magenta and Rue de Dunkerque.
Just steps away: the stunning Marché Couvert Saint-Quentin (one of Paris’s last great 19th-century Baltard-style covered markets), with its soaring iron-and-glass structure packed with butchers, cheesemongers, florists, international stalls (Italian, African, Portuguese, Asian, Moroccan...), and even a shoemaker. Open Tue–Sat 8am–8pm, Sun 8am–1:30pm, ideal for weekend provisioning.
“The streets of Paris are best explored without hurry — they reveal themselves only to the unhurried.”
Part of the “Streets of Paris” Series
Each Saturday, we wander through the streets of Paris — tracing light, texture, and the quiet poetry of daily life.
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