You probably know the City of Lights as one of most romantic places in the world. And nearly a century ago, with horse-drawn carriages clopping down cobblestone streets and the whole thing preserved for history in luscious black-and-white, that was truer than ever. Immerse yourself in 1920s Paris with these incredible vintage photos:
A boat on the Seine River in 1926, with a view of the Eiffel Tower in the background. National Library of France Children boxing in an outdoor match, 1921. National Library of France Looking down the Rue de Seine, as shot by the pioneer of documentary photography, Eugène Atget, circa 1924.Eugène Atget/Wikimedia CommonsCyclists, 1920.National Library of France A horticulture exhibition at the Grand Palais in 1922. National Library of FranceThe Jardin de Tuileries taken by the little-known photographer, Yvon.Yvon/Editions YvonStreet cleaners clear slushy snow off the sidewalk, 1922. National Library of France The Longchamp Racecourse, 1926. National Library of FranceThe queen of the Mi-Carême parade on her float, 1921.National Library of FranceA nun walks down a street in the Montmartre neighborhood in 1929. National Library of FrancePalm Sunday, 1922. National Library of France The quiet Quai Saint-Michel, as photographed by Yvon. Yvon/Editions Yvon The Place De L'Opera, 1926. National Library of FranceFrom left, the writers James Joyce, Ezra Pound, John Quinn, and Ford Madox Ford, 1923. New York Public LibraryEugène Atget captured this prostitute sitting in front of her door in 1921. Eugène Atget; Wikimedia Commons The Quai de la Mégisserie, as photographed by Yvon. Yvon/Editions YvonA man gets his shoes shined, 1929. National Library of France A busy train station, 1929. National Library of France A young woman leans up against a wall, 1925. National Library of France. A women's car rally hosts hot air balloons, 1926. National Library of France Eugene Atget's shot of the Pantheon on a foggy day, circa 1924.Eugène Atget/Wikimedia Commons
If you loved these photos, check out these stunning images from 1960s Paris. Then, discover what life is like inside a tiny Parisian apartment.
