On the Streets of Paris: Rue de la Roquette – History and Everyday Life in the 11th

Rue de la Roquette in the 11th arrondissement: Parisian façades, café terraces, string lights, and street activity under a cloudy sky.

The street was once the site of the Roquette *prisons and the street saw heavy fighting during the 1871 Paris Commune.

The poet Paul Verlaine (who? I hear you say) lived here in the 1880s–90s who despite his struggles, Parisian students would affectionately nickname him 'Le Prince des Poètes'.

Now it's a busy Bastille area full of cafés, brunch spots like Brother Sister, and local energy. A street with layers of history beneath the daily scene.

*More here

“The streets of Paris are best explored without hurry — they reveal themselves only to the unhurried.”

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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.

Browse the full series

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