Rue Férou Paris
Apr 9, 2025

Rue Férou Paris

A celebration of literature

""Rue Férou" in Paris has a mural of Rimbaud's Bâteau Ivre on what is now a tax center. It's all written by hand by calligrapher Jan Willem Bruins."

Unless you actually enter it, rue Férou in Paris’ 6th arrondissement is, at least in appearance, just another small and quiet street. However, if you walk in from the side facing the Jardin du Luxembourg, a few steps will suffice to notice the inscription of Rimbaud’s Bâteau Ivre on the walls of what is now a tax center. Surprisingly, the idea for the fresco came from a Dutch foundation, tegen-Beeld, in the context of an initiative called "Wall Poems." After endless negotiations with the local authorities and thanks to the financial support of the Dutch Embassy as well as over 200 Dutch donors, the wall was officially inaugurated in 2012.

The poem was written entirely by hand by a calligrapher by the name of Jan Willem Bruins and the work took him over ten weeks to complete. However, if you know the poem, you will notice that something is slightly off about it… the reason being that it is to be read from right to left, instead of from left to right! Although this was probably an unintentional mistake, a poetic explanation was found: the story goes that the words of the poem were blown there by the wind as Rimbaud recited it for the first time in a café located on the other side of the place Saint-Sulpice.

A true celebration of literature, the street was also home to Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Jacques Prévert and the (almost) fictional character Athos in Dumas’ Three Musketeers.

Amsterdam
Antwerp
002-building
Art & culture
002-building
Art & culture
002-building
Art & culture

About this spot

Rue Férou

no-price

Find your way with 168 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters

Discover hidden gems and all our locals’ favourites! Get full access to our Paris guide.

Nice place right!? There’s so much more to discover:

Discover all other hidden gems in Paris

Rue du Montparnasse Paris

Rue du Montparnasse

Crêpes galore!

"Rue du Montparnasse" in Paris is THE place to be to try authentic French savory crêpes, aka galettes, just like they make them in Brittany.

021-spoon-and-fork-1
Restaurants
024-burger-1
Snacks

by

Alix

Mengin

Jun 8, 2025
Jardin Catherine-Labouré Paris

Jardin Catherine-Labouré

Orchard turned garden

"Jardin Catherine-Labouré" in Paris was an orchard that belonged to the Filles de la Charité convent; today, it's the perfect place to take your kids!

017-plant-1
Relaxing

by

Alix

Mengin

Jun 6, 2025
Les Copains du Faubourg Paris

Les Copains du Faubourg

Egg & bacon roll bliss

"Les Copains du Faubourg" with its English bulldog mascot makes a perfect egg & bacon roll that never fails to draw me in...

024-burger-1
Snacks

by

Paul

Wright

May 22, 2025
Maison POS Paris

Maison POS

A pleasure pantry

"Maison POS" in Paris is a fruit & veg seller is focused on organic fresh produce. It's a pleasure pantry where you can discover local tastes!

024-burger-1
Snacks

by

Paul

Wright

May 22, 2025
Chez Antoine Paris

Chez Antoine

An on-the-go eating experience

"Chez Antoine" in Paris is great any time of day! It's the kind of place they always remember my order - a Pizza Sicilienne usually...

021-spoon-and-fork-1
Restaurants

by

Paul

Wright

May 22, 2025
La Kabane Paris

La Kabane

Doggies and cookies

"La Kabane" in Paris is a go-to place of mine for citron, coconut, triple chocolate and granola cookies! I love their dog...

020-coffee-cup-1
Coffee & tea

by

Paul

Wright

May 22, 2025
Refuge BD Paris

Refuge BD

Click & collect

"Refuge BD" in Paris is a local comic book or BD shop where I've been doing 'click & collect' during the lockdown...

002-building
Art & culture
026-thrift-shop-1
Shopping

by

Paul

Wright

May 22, 2025
Espace Niemeyer Paris

Espace Niemeyer

Headquarters of the PCF

"Espace Niemeyer" in Paris is home to the French Communist Party, but also a space dedicated to artistic expression and creative architecture...

002-building
Art & culture

by

Alix

Mengin

May 10, 2025
Clos Montmartre Paris

Clos Montmartre

A hidden vineyard in Paris

"Clos Montmartre" is one of five remaining vineyards in central Paris! Their presence dates back to the 10th century...

002-building
Art & culture

by

Alix

Mengin

May 8, 2025
Cimetière du Montparnasse Paris

Cimetière du Montparnasse

A green cemetery

"Cimetière du Montparnasse" is not only a cemetery but also one of Paris' biggest green spaces. Many world-famous people are buried here, too...

002-building
Art & culture
017-plant-1
Relaxing

by

Alix

Mengin

May 8, 2025
Beaupassage Paris

Beaupassage

An open-air food court

The "Beaupassage" in Paris is just as much a space dedicated to food as it is to nature and art. It's a 10,000 m² courtyard completed in 2018...

002-building
Art & culture
017-plant-1
Relaxing
021-spoon-and-fork-1
Restaurants
024-burger-1
Snacks

by

Alix

Mengin

May 6, 2025
Le Réservoir de Montsouris Paris

Le Réservoir de Montsouris

Water in Paris

"Le Réservoir de Montsouris" is the biggest water reservoir in Paris. It's a truly impressive structure that's more than 150 years old...

002-building
Art & culture

by

Alix

Mengin

May 6, 2025

Heading to Paris?

168 Insider Tips from our local Spotters

Authentic Stories by Real People

Escape the Crowd & Travel Slow 🐌

... for just €9.99

Heading to Paris?

0 Insider Tips from our local Spotters

168 Insider Tips

✓ Escape the Crowds

✓ Find Spots nearby

✓ Authentic Stories

... for just €9.99

App Download Download our app

City guides by those who know the city in and out!

Our Locals' Favorite Art & culture

Our team loves Paris

Get to know our other Spotters from Paris

As featured on:

New-York-Times
the-guardian
mashable
the-sunday-times
false
0
false
30
Filters