[An illustration of a ship, symbolizing the symbol of Paris]

Histoire de Paris

Le Café Voltaire
L’établissement, fondé en 1750, a sans doute été fréquenté par Camille et Lucile Desmoulins, qui habitaient la maison voisine jusqu’à leur arrestation.; il est décrit par Balzac en 1827 dans une étude philosophique, "Les martyrs ignorés". Pendant les dernières années du Second Empire, Gambetta et ses amis aiment à s’y réunir. Aux environs de 1880, le "Grand Café-Restaurant Voltaire" fait figure de véritable rendez-vous politique et litteraire: Verlaine y laisse des dettes, André Gide, Jean Moréas, Anatole France, Alfred Vallette et Rachildeont leurs habitudes.

[Illustration of the place]

Un peu plus tard, il devient le repaire favori des poètes symbolistes, où Gauguin côtoie Mallarmé "coiffé d’un béret basque, affublé d’un macfarlane innommable et chaussé de sabots sculptés".

One of the series of signs describing historical places in Paris. The signs were placed starting in 1992 and are also called sucettes Starck (Starck’s Lollipops) after Philippe Starck who designed them.

The sign describes the cafe that opened in 1750, was named after the writer and philosopher Voltaire, and was active until the middle of the twentieth century. Artists, politicians and other personalities used to meet in the cafe.
amille Desmoulins was a French journalist and prominent figure in the French Revolution, who was executed by guillotine.

The place was photographed on the same day Click for a larger image

The illustration in the center of the sign is shown here at magnification Click for a larger image

Translation of the text on the sign:

[An illustration of a ship, symbolizing the symbol of Paris]

History of Paris

Café Voltaire
The establishment, founded in 1750, was undoubtedly frequented by Camille and Lucile Desmoulins, who lived in the neighboring house until their arrest.; he was described by Balzac in 1827 in a philosophical study, “The Ignored Martyrs”. During the last years of the Second Empire, Gambetta and his friends liked to meet there. Around 1880, the "Grand Café-Restaurant Voltaire" became a real political and literary meeting place: Verlaine left debts there, André Gide, Jean Moréas, Anatole France, Alfred Vallette and Rachilde had their habits.

[Illustration of the place]

A little later, it became the favorite haunt of symbolist poets, where Gauguin rubbed shoulders with Mallarmé "wearing a Basque beret, decked out in an unspeakable macfarlane and wearing sculpted clogs".