Rue de la Huchette – Huchette Street

Rue de la Huchette, a medieval lane of the Left Bank

The Paris audio-guided tour takes you along Rue de la Huchette, a small pedestrian street as narrow as it is lively, which leads to Place Saint-Michel. One of the oldest streets in Paris, it was long one of the finest on the Left Bank.

From the Golden Huchette to the inns

The street owes its name to a sign, La Huchette d'Or, which stood at number 1 in 1284. At the time, it was known for its inns: it is said that the young Napoleon Bonaparte stayed there, at the Cadran Bleu inn, in 1795. Today, restaurants follow one another along this picturesque lane, heir to several centuries of history.

What there is to see

Rue de la Huchette concentrates restaurants, taverns and entertainment venues, in a cosmopolitan, exotic atmosphere. It houses in particular the smallest theatre in Paris, which has played the same play for decades. It is one of the liveliest arteries of the Latin Quarter, a stone's throw from the Seine and the Île de la Cité.

Practical information

Rue de la Huchette is in the 5th arrondissement of Paris, between Place Saint-Michel and Rue du Petit-Pont. It is a pedestrian street that can be walked freely at all hours and on the level; the restaurants and entertainment venues keep their own hours.

Where does the name Rue de la Huchette come from?

It comes from a sign, La Huchette d'Or, which stood at number 1 in 1284. The street was then known for its inns.

What is there on Rue de la Huchette today?

There are many restaurants, taverns and entertainment venues, including the smallest theatre in Paris, in a cosmopolitan atmosphere.