A Colourful Piece of Paradise in Paris: Rue Cremieux Paris in the 12th Arrondissement is a place of pastel coloured houses and shutters, a quirky little street in the centre of the city…
Paris is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Measuring only 10 kilometres wide, neatly packaged into 20 arrondissements, each with their own individual character and bursting with a myriad of wonders to explore.
Apart from the wide boulevards adorned with elegant Haussmannian architecture and iconic monuments, Paris also has a treasure trove of delights to be found off the beaten path. One such place is a street called Rue Crémieux. Although, to call Rue Crémieux a mere street, would be an understatement.
What you will discover in this quiet and enchanting cobbled passage tucked away in the 12th arrondissement awash with colour and terracotta pots filled with lush plants that line the street, is a secret hideaway destined to delight the senses. A quiet little oasis full of Parisian charm and void of tourists.
Not far from the bustling Gare de Lyon train station and branching off the Rue de Lyon, Rue Crémieux was originally named Avenue Millaud when it opened in 1865 but later changed in 1897 to Rue Crémeux after a lawyer and Minister of Justice: Adolphe Crémieux.
The street wasn’t always a pretty hideaway and has seen seedier times but now the adorable thoroughfare with it’s colourful quaint cottages has a close knit community who have ensured that this secret alleyway is well maintained.
A plaque at number 8 serves as a reminder to how far the water reached from the Seine River during the 1910 floods and exploring the personal touches like this, lovingly added to the building’s façades is what makes a stroll down Rue Crémieux worthy.
Whether it be brightly painted shutters, flower boxes decorating window sills, the ginger cat in full flight chasing after birds at number 28 or the trompe-l’oeil depicting a creeping vine at number 21, you will no doubt have a colourful and pleasing stroll along Rue Crémieux.
Rue Cremieux is a few minutes walk from Gare de Bercy or Gare de Lyon, so if you ever find yourself with time to spare in those two stations, look up Rue Cremieux on a map and wander along, its a good way to while away a half an hour or so and you’ll discover a quirky little street that’s full of joie de vivre!
By the way, if you think this street looks familiar and you know London, then you may recognise that Rue Cremieux looks just like the Portobello Road in Notting Hill (picture below). That street was created around the same time as Rue Cremieux, in the late 1800s, but there doesn’t seem to be a connection other than the colourful, quirky houses.
There are plenty of secret treasures to be found in Paris, you just need to know where to find them…
By Paris Adèle: a self-confessed Australian Francophile and travel bug who spends one month in Paris every year and blogs about the places she discovers at www.parisadele.com which is full of her tips for where to go, eat and stay.
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