Every city has one, Paris makes no exception! You're looking at the narrowest street in Paris, la rue du Chat-qui-Pèche (The fishing cat street)... It was built in 1540 (yes, 1540!!), is located in the 5th arrondissement, close to La Seine and is only 1.80 m wide (slightly less than 6 feet). You won't be surprised to hear it's a pedestrian only street and that it's one of the many tourist attractions! Have a good weekend everyone.
Hmmm, could a horseman ride through there?
ReplyDeleteWhat about your scooter, Eric?
ReplyDeleteMy scooter would! A horseman, I'm not so sure actually...
ReplyDeleteI'm squealing with delight as I haven't ever heard of this street, even with all the guidebooks in my library. On my To Do list!!!!Thank you again, Eric.
ReplyDeleteAmazing! But I can feel claustrophobic, just looking at it. :-)
ReplyDeleteMari-Nanci
I saw it last summer by night, and indeed, a place full of tourists!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/janevc/2250816561
lovely street, full of character.
ReplyDeletehave a great weekend Eric.
I HAVE BEEN THERE LAST YEAR!!!
ReplyDeleteI can´t believe you posted a photo of it.
When I first saw the name of this street on the map I thought it sounded so funny I had to check it out. So I did!
Phx I can´t believe you never heard of this street, you know every hidden corner of Paris!
OK, I'll refrain from posting a predictable comment ... ;)
ReplyDeleteHow quaint. I adore it. Reminds me of a painting i did of Chinon once. You can see it here if interested - http://ukartistdailypainting.blogspot.com/search?q=chinon
ReplyDeletesorry can't do links at the moment without the formula which is on my broken laptop!
Don't you just love, Eric, to wonder how many feet have passed before yours on that street? I always think this in ancient alleys and streets, what it was like then...
We have a replica of this street in California! The Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto, CA (near Stanford University) has a little side passageway with a florist, cafe and outdoor market to name a few. I had no idea they stole the name!
ReplyDeleteHere, someone blogged about it and has a few pics of the mural.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.leblogdeclementine.com/2006/12/03/le-grand-mural-de-stanford-shopping-center/
if i remember correctly there is a cafe on blvd. montparnasse called "le chein qui fume" think about it, if this cafe was on this little street you would have a smoking dog and a fishing cat...hmmm pretty funny.
ReplyDeletebon weekend!
The American author Elliot Paul immortalised the Rue de la Huchette, which this alley connects to the quai, in his wartime memoir A Narrow Street. Presumably the théâtre de la Huchette wasn't even playing Ionesco back then -- hard to imagine!
ReplyDeleteNext time I'm in Paris, I better go easy on les macarons so that I can fit through there ;)
ReplyDeleteBon weekend!
Beautiful photo Eric ... full of angles, lines, light and history .... of some murky events that occurred there. Will check it out when in Paris next week.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth
It's lovely, Eric. It seems I should have been there. I remember the name of it, but it doesn't look familiar. I thought I had done all the touristy things, but there wasn't nearly enough time.
ReplyDeleteAnonyme, tell us the murky events please!
I also love the street lanterns, I guess the moon light doesn't get there!
ReplyDeleteI do love pushing into narrow passageways in Paris LOL
ReplyDeleteOh, I love it! I take photos of narrow streets when we're visiting Europe. I wish I had known about this one.
ReplyDeleteIt's a real no-go area! Eric you were lucky, the street is usually crowded!
ReplyDeleteSuzy,
You already have the Eiffel Tower in Las Vegas and now the street of "le chat qui pêche" in California?
So what happens to the French exception ?? ;)
Beautiful picture, and so interesting!
ReplyDeleteI love how the narrowness of the street seems accentuated by the fact that there are regular-sized lampposts in it.
navrd:
ReplyDeleteI can't believe you said that!
Very cute and no doubt quite as serviceable in 1540 as it is to the pedestrians of today.
ReplyDeleteGreat photo, Eric, showing just a slice of sky.
That's one of my favorite places in the city. My first time in Paris, I ate at a restaurant right there called Le Chat Qui Pèche and it was one of my favorite parts of my first trip to Paris.
ReplyDeleteAh, Guille, les femmes de Paris ont les exceptions! Of course, you know that.
ReplyDeleteI love it!! In addition to my PDP calendar[Ahem..]I have several other Paris calendars...and on one of them there is an adorable B&W photo of the corner of this street with the street sign and lamp and a big fat white cat perusing the "scene"! The cat is on a ledge and it is probably a well known photo yet I had never seen it before and it is charming!!
ReplyDeleteI love this photo as I have never been there and I didn't know the street was so narrow. La rue du Chat-qui-Pèche will be a destination for my next Paris visit. Euro vs Dollar...Please improve! LOL!!! Merci Eric!
C'est super! J'aimerais visiter cetter rue si je me retrouve a Paris!
ReplyDeleteOf course I know that, I'm one of them. ;)
ReplyDeleteHave a great sunny sunday!
Great pic, I've added this street to my list of things to do when I'm in Paris in September. Thanks Eric!
ReplyDeleteIt's more like an alley than a street! But I love the lamp posts!
ReplyDeleteAmazing! If that were here, someone would still try to cram their huge SUV in it!
ReplyDelete