Gros-Horloge Street

Looking for peace and quiet? Well, you won't find it here. You're currently on the busiest thoroughfare in the city. Gros-Horloge Street is popular for its varied shops and rich history. Big-name stores are gaining more and more ground on small local businesses. But it wasn't always like this. Back in 1932, the street was home to France's very first Monoprix store, then called "Noma," meaning "new store." And when it became France's first pedestrian zone, even more big stores moved in. The days of traffic jams are long gone. Today, you’ll see crowds of shoppers and sightseers. Indeed, Gros-Horloge Street is just perfect for a leisurely stroll. People flock here to marvel at the many colorful half-timbered houses and the emblematic clock above the arch. So you see, this street is truly a sight to behold. It was even immortalized by Impressionist painter Pissaro back in 1885.