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 Commons
Cyclists, 1920.National Library of France
A horticulture exhibition at the Grand Palais in 1922. National Library of France
Street cleaners clear slushy snow off the sidewalk, 1922. National Library of France
The Longchamp Racecourse, 1926. National Library of France
The queen of the Mi-Carême parade on her float, 1921.National Library of France
A nun walks down a street in the Montmartre neighborhood in 1929. National Library of France
Palm 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 France
From left, the writers James Joyce, Ezra Pound, John Quinn, and Ford Madox Ford, 1923. New York Public Library
Eugène 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 Yvon
A 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.
