Paris is full of unusual places to discover. From secret guinguettes to secret gardens, you never have time to get bored. Take a trip back in time to the Cour du Commerce Saint-André. This little passageway steeped in history links rue Saint-André-des-Arts to boulevard Saint-Germain. Since the 1700s, Parisians have been meeting here for coffee at Procope, strolls and a good time…
A secret courtyard nestled in the 6ᵉ arrondissement of Paris
A former jeu de paume court, this courtyard , whose cobblestones are over 300 years old, was above all the haunt of the greatest intellectuals of our time. Voltaire, Diderot and Rousseau were frequent visitors to Le Procope, now the oldest café in Paris. Today, you can still enjoy a coffee or even lunch there, and discover a real piece of Paris history, such as Napoleon’s hat, protected in a frame.
Some political figures were so fond of this courtyard that they lived here. Such was the case of Danton, who lived at number 20! Unfortunately, his apartment is no longer visible. The courtyard also hides a number of charming independent boutiques, bookshops and cafés with a very Parisian feel… For a well-deserved gourmet break, we recommend a visit to Relais Odéon, a beautiful Art Nouveau-style café.
Less glamorous, but just as historic, it was in this very courtyard that the guillotine was tested and invented… A dark part of our history forever marked here by a plaque at the end of the passage.
A picturesque place that is said to have inspired the world of art and cinema! Take a stroll this weekend, or whenever you feel like it, on your next Parisian getaway.
