In the heart of the Marais district, the Passage de l’Ancre is an unusual little private road, not to be missed during a walk in Paris.

A lot of artists’ studios

Hardly visible from the street, it is a surprising little piece of countryside that you would not expect to find in the heart of old Paris ! About 70 meters long, but relatively narrow, it is dotted with artists’ studios with colorful facades, some converted into offices. In particular, there was, until January 2021, the “Pep’s” shop, one of the last repairers of umbrellas, parasols and parasols in the capital.

A bucolic parenthesis

Considered one of the oldest passages in Paris, its name comes from a sign in the shape of an anchor displayed by an old inn located in these places. Along its entire length, the passage is decorated with plants and flowers. This passage offers a bucolic parenthesis close to the Museum of Arts and Crafts. This “little piece of countryside in Paris” hidden behind a heavy porte-cochere is one of the oldest passages in Paris since its traces can be found as early as the 17th century.

A sad history

The passage of the anchor is a particularly unusual place which has a much sadder history than its many colors let appear. Indeed, during the roundup of Vel’ d’Hiv’ which took place on July 16 and 17, 1942, the passage was one of the most affected in the capital since all its inhabitants were of the Jewish faith and were deported . Remained closed for a very long time after this event, the passage only reopened its astonishing door in 1998. Since then, it has regained all its splendor and once again stands as one of the most beautiful passages in the capital.