Inhabitants of the Butte know this institution inside out! Since 1908, this Montmartre store has delighted tourists and Parisians alike. You could find everything here: a grocer’s corner featuring local products, and a second-hand corner with objets d’art, paintings and knick-knacks. And even today, over 100 years later, the tradition continues!
Au Singe qui lit: a historic souvenir store in Paris
Founded by Émile Boyer in 1908, the store initially adjoined the iconic bistro La Mère Catherine, 6 place du Tertre, before moving in 2023 to number 17 on the same square. For more than 100 years, it has been home to an eclectic, charming bric-a-brac that only Monsieur Boyer knew the secret of.
You’d find everything here: watercolor paintings by local artists, a grocery corner, a baraque à frites (said to be the first in the Montmartre district!) and incongruous objects of all kinds. The store quickly became one of Montmartre’s heritage sites. Even today, although the walls are not those of the original boutique, the new address is as close as possible to the spirit of Emile Boyer. Behind the fir-green storefront, you’ll find a selection of objects as eclectic as ever. Candles in the shape of a croissant or a baguette, illustrations to hang in your living room, colorful postcards depicting Paris… Whether you’re just passing through or a lifelong Parisian, you’ll find it hard to resist compulsive buying!
A store with an unforgettable name!
But why call it “Au Singe qui lit”? According to the most widespread rumor, there was an artists’ magazine of the same name circulating in Montmartre at the end of the 19th century. In slang, a monkey refers to a boss, but also to a typographer, which is what Émile Boyer was before he opened his store… While none of these rumors can confirm with certainty why this store is so named, one thing’s for sure: you can’t miss this 18th arrondissement nugget!
📍Location: 17 Pl. du Tertre, 75018 Paris