Read below to find out more about Rue Montorgueil and Montorgueil-Saint Denis Quarter, a trendy street and area in the 2nd Arrondissement filled with famous restaurants, charming cafés, bakeries and hip shopping.
The Montorgueil-Saint Denis Quarter, also known as the Pedestrians Quarter, is very centrally located in the second arrondissement, in the Châtelet-Les Halles district. The streets of the quarter are cobbled, adding to the beauty and quaint charm of the area. The principal street is Rue Montorgueil, which houses most of the chic shops and restaurants, as well as two famous ice cream parlors. North of Rue Montorgueil is the area known as the Grands Boulevards; directly south is the Saint-Eustache Cathedral and Les Halles.
A very fashionable and chic area, many designer shops and charming apartments in Paris can be found here. Dining is highly recommended here, as patrons typically fall quickly in love with the ambience, the service and most importantly, the food.
This district demonstrates a typically charming aspect of Paris: how even the busy center of this French capital is able to hold onto village-like nooks, with both modern and quaint Paris apartments long term to be had, that seem to harken back to another age. It also gives a snapshot of how Paris manages to be resolutely modern, while preserving a rich, deeply historical heritage.
Some main streets around Rue Montorgueil include Rue Etienne Marcel, Rue Tiquetonne, and Rue Marie-Stuart. The area around Rue Mauconseil has been home to many historic theater troupes, including 16th-century playwright Jean Racine's.
Rue Montorgueil itself is lined with various quaint cafés, famous restaurants, bakeries (including La Maison Stohrer), cheese shops, fish stores, wine shops, produce stands and flower shops. As a result, rue Montorgueil has become recognized as one of the best places for hip Parisians to socialize while doing their daily grocery and other shopping. From a Paris apartment rental Montorgueil, you can shop like a local yourself. At the southernmost end of the street is the renowned Saint-Eustache Cathedral and Les Halles, containing the largest indoor shopping mall in Paris (mostly underground), and to the north is the area known as the Grands Boulevards.
There is even a famous painting of this road in the Musee d'Orsay, and no wonder. Must-see attractions include L'Escargot, 38, rue Montorgueil, founded in 1875 by the well known restaurateur Mignard, Le Rocher de Cancale, and of course the famous bakery La Maison Stohrer, 51, rue Montorgueil. More than a few furnished apartments paris can be rented a few short blocks from the famous bakery. The Maison Stohrer opened its doors here in 1730 and is one of the oldest bakeries in Paris. This is the very location that “baba au rhum” was invented more than 275 years ago. And for those who have yet to be initiated into the joys this delicious treat, thoroughly an invention of the Montorgueil, “baba au rhum” is a small yeast cake saturated in liquor (usually rum), and often filled with pastry cream or whipped cream. It is most typically made in individual servings (about a 2" tall slightly tapered cylinder) but is sometimes made in larger forms similar to those used for bundt cakes. A word to cautious (although some recommend throwing caution to the wind while in Paris): The batter for baba is even richer than that for brioche, and includes butter, milk and eggs.
Some of the city's best produce, meat and fish markets can be found on the Rue Montergueil, with bars diverse enough to please both hipsters and those in search of a more traditional setting.
Rue Montorgueil's name translates literally to "Mount Pride" and was named after the hilly area on which the street was developed. Certainly the area has much to be proud of in the realm of history, as well as in the present. Streets like Rue Dussoubs and Rue Saint-Sauveur date to the 11th century. Elaborate ironwork can be found on historic houses located at #17, #23, and #25, Rue Montorgueil. Many of the buildings on the street also feature painted facades, adding a splash of color to the otherwise storied historical ambience.
