The Lamp Posts of Paris are everywhere, yet most of us walk past them without a second glance.
But once you start noticing them—really noticing them—you begin to see the city differently.
These elegant structures are more than just sources of light; they’re part of the city’s charm, its rhythm, and its unmistakable silhouette.
From the ornate ironwork of the 19th century to more discreet modern styles, each lamp post has its own character.
Some seem to whisper old secrets from the days of gaslight, others quietly frame your stroll along the Seine or your evening in Montmartre.
Join me on a gentle wander through Paris—not just along its streets, but through its light.
Let’s take a closer look at the Lamp Posts of Paris.
They have more to say than you might think.
The Lamp Posts of Paris: More Than Just Lights
The Lamp Posts of Paris are part of what makes the city feel so… Parisian.
You might not notice them at first.
But once you do, you can’t unsee them.
They’re on every street, every square, every quiet corner.
And they’re beautiful.
Technically, yes, a lamp post is just a raised source of light.
Something practical.
Something to help you find your way home after sunset.
But in Paris, they’re so much more than that.
They’re part of the city’s soul.
A bit of History
Let’s go back in time for a moment.
The first electric street lighting in Paris used arc lamps, invented in 1875 by a Russian engineer named Pavel Yablochkov.
These powerful “candles” were first installed in 1878 to light up the Grands Magasins du Louvre, one of the city’s grand department stores.
People were amazed. It was new, bright, exciting — and a little magical.
That same year, some of these electric lights appeared in public spaces too.
And slowly, Paris began to glow.
Paris, the City of Lights
This is also when the nickname Ville Lumière — City of Lights — started to make sense.
Yes, it referred to the Enlightenment and Paris as a centre of ideas.
But it was also, quite literally, a city of lights.
Fast forward to today.
As of 1 January 2009, Paris had 61,900 candelabra and 29,800 building-mounted lights.
That’s nearly 100,000 lights twinkling across the city every night.
No wonder it feels so special after dark.
Different types of lamp posts
But what really makes the lamp posts of Paris stand out is their variety.
There isn’t just one style. Walk through the Marais, then head to Saint-Germain.
Cross the Seine to the Latin Quarter, or stroll along the Canal Saint-Martin. You’ll see them change.
Some are sleek and modern. Others look like they belong in a fairy tale — with twisted metalwork, delicate floral details, and swirling patterns.
You’ll find single poles, simple and discreet.
And then, there are the grand ones. The candelabra.
They rise like miniature trees, each branch holding a globe of light. Ornate, theatrical, and proud.
Sometimes they’re green. Sometimes black.
Occasionally, a dull grey. But always, somehow, they feel right.
As if they’ve always been there — quietly watching Paris go by.
And maybe that’s what I love the most about them.
They don’t shout. They don’t try to impress. They just stand there, lighting up a café terrace, a bridge, or the quiet street where someone’s walking home with a fresh baguette.
So next time you’re in Paris, do me a favour.
Look up.
Take a moment to really see the Lamp Posts of Paris.
They might not change your life, but they’ll change the way you see the city.
And that, I think, is already something quite special.
A Stroll Through Paris, One Lamp Post at a Time
Once you start paying attention to the Lamp Posts of Paris, you realise there isn’t just one style.
There are dozens. Maybe more.
And they all have something to say about the street they light.
Let’s start simple.
Single Pole Lamps
These are the classic, everyday Parisian lamp posts — slender, elegant, often painted green.
You’ll see them everywhere, from grand avenues to quiet squares.
Here’s one near Hôtel des Invalides. Discreet, but graceful.
In Place de la Bastille, they come in a double-arm version.
The silhouette is familiar, but there’s something proud about the way they stretch over the square.
And then there’s the Place Dauphine. Tucked away on the Île de la Cité, it’s one of the loveliest spots in Paris — and the old-fashioned lamps only add to the charm.
You’ll find this same style all across the city, a little echo of the past in every corner.
Now look closer.
Some of these single pole lamps have a twist. Their shape is more elaborate, their details richer.
And at the top? A crown. Literally. You’ll spot them:
– by the stairs of Montmartre,
– on the Pont des Arts,
– and in the Napoleon Courtyard of the Louvre.
Once you know what to look for, you’ll see them again and again.
Another classic appears on Pont Notre-Dame, Pont de l’Archevêché, near the Panthéon, at the Louvre, and in the Tuileries Garden.
They’re a bit taller, a bit more assertive. Paris, but with a little more flair.
The Louvre-Tuileries
Pont de la Tournelle
And then there’s Pont de la Tournelle.
Stretching across the Seine between the Left Bank and Île Saint-Louis, this bridge features a lamp post that’s unlike any other. Its shape is almost sculptural. You won’t forget it.
Rounded Lamp Posts
In Place des Vosges, the light is softer. More romantic.
That’s thanks to the round glass globes of the lamps.
They cast gentle shadows on the red-brick arcades and rustling leaves. Ideal for a quiet walk at dusk.
Wall Lamps
Paris has many narrow streets. Especially in Le Marais, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, the Latin Quarter, and Montmartre.
Here, lamp posts don’t have room to stand. So they cling to the walls.
These wall-mounted lamps are charming in their own way — some are tiny, others proudly curved.
They light your path without taking up space.
The Candelabra
Now, let’s turn to the stars of the show.
Paris is full of candelabra — lamp posts with multiple arms, like old trees holding balls of light instead of fruit.
The most common version has three arms. You’ll see them in:
– Place de l’Opéra,
– Place Vendôme,
– the Grands Boulevards,
– and near the Petit-Palais.
And sometimes, designers get creative. In Place Clemenceau (on the Champs-Élysées), the three arms curve like drops of water, smooth and modern, but still recognisably Parisian.
Then come the four-arm candelabra, like those in Place de l’Hôtel de Ville.
They’re tall and dignified, matching the elegance of the Paris City Hall behind them.
And yes, there are five-arm candelabra too — especially near the Louvre.
With their elaborate curves and leaf-like scrolls, they look like they belong in a 19th-century ballroom.
Some of the most exquisite designs are in Place de la Concorde.
These lamp posts are true works of art, covered in details: garlands, spears, symbols of ships, golden motifs…
You could spend ten minutes just looking at one and still miss something.
And then — the grand finale.
Pont Alexandre III
The lamp posts here are the most extravagant in all of Paris.
If the Eiffel Tower had cousins in lamp form, these would be it.
Gold-tipped, overflowing with ornaments, bursting with Belle Époque spirit.
At sunset, they look like stage props from an opera.
And they’re completely, unapologetically over-the-top.
But that’s Paris for you.
Even a lamp post can be a masterpiece.
Shadows and Silhouettes
Sometimes, the magic isn’t in the details. It’s in the shadows.
In this way, a lamp post stands in silhouette in front of a monument, a church, or the rising moon.
In Place de l’Hôtel de Ville, for example, when the lights are on and the square is quiet, the old lamps draw lines against the city like black ink on a pale canvas.
And suddenly, Paris feels timeless.
English-French Vocabulary
(f) for féminin, (m) for masculin, (adj) for adjective and (v) for verbs
- arm = bras (m)
- bank = rive (f)
- branch = branche (f)
- candelabra = candélabre (m)
- City of Lights = Ville Lumière (f)
- lamp post = lampadaire (m), réverbère (m)
- pavement = trottoir (m)
- stair = escalier (m)
- street = rue (f)
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Hello Pierre,
Is there an area of Paris where the streetlights have pink glass and therefore cast pink light?
Bonjour Christine. Thank you for your comment. I have no idea whether such street lamps exist in Paris, but I wouldn’t be surprised to find them somewhere in the city.
Yes I have noticed the beautiful lamps, not only in Paris. As I travel through France, I take photos of lamps in every town! I read somewhere that each arrondissement of Paris has its own unique lamp design and each lamp post is molded with the number of its arrondissement. Did you find this to be true?
Thank you, Donna. I didn’t know about each lamp post molded with the arrondissement number, but it wouldn’t surprise me!