Marin Montagut is an illustrator and designer of boundless creativity, for whom Paris is an inexhaustible source of inspiration. In his boutique at 48 rue Madame, glassware, stationery, textiles and other unusual objects are displayed alongside his latest book, Mon Paris de Toujours. A veritable ode to the capital, this illustrated guide brings together 475 secret Parisian addresses, from quaint workshops to forgotten passageways, sublimated by the artist’s watercolors and vintage engravings. To discover these hidden nuggets, we caught up with Marin Montagut in his beloved Aligre district. From store to shop, he shares his favorite addresses and anecdotes in a resolutely Parisian interview.
What’s your secret address in Paris?
… to escape to when you need inspiration?
Marin Montagut : There’s the Musée de la Minéralogie, which I love. It’s very secret, and many Parisians don’t know about it. It’s hidden away in the École des Mines, behind the Jardin du Luxembourg, and the architecture is sublime. You have to walk through some classrooms to get there, and then you come across a huge hall, with minerals of all kinds. It’s very beautiful and truly inspiring. What’s more, it’s not very well known, so it’s generally very quiet.
📍 Musée de Minéralogie de l’École des Mines – 60 boulevard Saint-Michel, 75006 Paris (currently closed)
… to draw
Marin Montagut: Le Jardin du Luxembourg, or Le Pure Café. Otherwise, in my studio: it’s still the basis!
📍 Le Pure Café – 14 rue Jean-Macé, 75011 Paris
… for a good cup of coffee
Marin Montagut : I like the Fleurus, next to my store. It’s a ’50s café that hasn’t changed in terms of decor, and it’s right next to the Jardin du Luxembourg: very pleasant!
📍 Café Fleurus – 2 rue de Fleurus, 75006 Paris
… for a good croissant
Marin Montagut: Du Pain et des Idées, in the 10th arrondissement.
📍 Boulangerie Du Pain et Des Idées – 34 rue Yves Toudic, 75010 Paris
… to party
Marin Montagut: The Cabaret Au Lapin Agile in Montmartre is an old-fashioned cabaret.
📍 Cabaret Au Lapin Agile, 22 rue des Saules, 75018 Paris
… to find nuggets to offer your loved ones
Marin Montagut : It would be an exaggeration to say 48 rue Madame (laughs), so I’d say the Puces de Saint Ouen.
📍 Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen – 124 rue des Rosiers, 93400 Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine, France
Which place reminds you of why you love Paris?
Marin Montagut : I’d say when I’m on my Vespa scooter, crossing Paris every day, going from one bank to the other.
What Parisian feature do you most admire?
Marin Montagut : What I admire in Paris are all the intact facades of shops, stalls, bars and restaurants. And that’s becoming increasingly rare! I think they should be protected, and not allowed to be destroyed. It’s increasingly rare to find facades that are “in their original state”. In my book, I’ve often featured beautiful facades that are now protected, but not all of them are.
What’s your favorite Parisian monument?
Marin Montagut : Without any originality: it’s the Eiffel Tower. It really is! (laughs) Every time I walk past it, even 20 years later, my mouth drops open like a child’s. I can’t get enough of it. I never tire of it, whether at night when it’s flashing or at different times of the day. It’s a fascination and a wonder.
📍 The Eiffel Tower – avenue Gustave Eiffel, 75007 Paris
What are your favorite addresses in the Aligre district?
Marin Montagut: The Marché d’Aligre: one of the oldest markets in Paris. As well as vegetables and fruit, there are antiques. That’s what makes me so happy, to be able to go bargain hunting at the same time as doing my shopping and filling my fridge. And at the same time, to meet people, craftsmen, flower and vegetable sellers who’ve been there for 20 or 30 years.
📍 Marché d’Aligre – place et rue d’Aligre, 75012 Paris
La Graineterie du Marché: I love this place because it hasn’t changed since the 1950s: it’s a bit of a film set! At Marché d’Aligre, it’s a cult spot. You can find seeds, of course, so you can grow plants on your balcony. It’s a place I include in all my books, and one that’s becoming rare. It’s important to promote this kind of store, because it has to stay there. You come here to pick up seeds, and at the same time, it’s a trip back in time!
📍 Graineterie du Marché – 8 place d’Aligre, 75012 Paris
Produits d’Antan: a shop where you can find all kinds of magical products to care for your furniture, in an old-fashioned decor. I have a passion for these stores where you can find lots of things. “Produits d’Antan” is aptly named, as it’s been around since 1922. I often come here to take care of the furniture I find.
📍 Produits d’Antan, 2 rue Dahomey/10 rue Saint-Bernard, 75011 Paris
Additional information:
📍 Marin Montagut’s boutique: 48 Rue Madame, 75006 Paris
📗 His latest book: Mon Paris de Toujours – €29.90