Rue Montmartre - on the streets of Paris.

Despite its name, Rue Montmartre is not in the Butte Montmartre district. Long before today's boulevards, it was the ancient road leading north from Paris to the village of Montmartre, giving the street its historic name.

It has always been a street of commerce, connecting the historic markets of Les Halles with the Grands Boulevards. Today, alongside cafés and boutiques, one detail still catches the eye above the rooftops.

Look up and you'll spot the painted gable end advertising Aux Trois Marches de France. This is a surviving mur peint, a hand-painted wall advertisement from the early 20th century. Rather than being restored to perfection, its faded lettering has been carefully preserved as a reminder of Paris's commercial past.

“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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