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Last Updated: 26 August 2024

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The oldest graffiti in Paris is one of my favourite secret places in the French capital.

You will find it in the historic and famous square of Place des Vosges.

Thousands of people would visit the square without knowing that it holds France – if not the world’s oldest graffiti.

Follow me, and I will reveal to you the exact location of the curious graffiti in Paris.

 

The oldest graffiti in Paris

1764.

That’s the year when the world’s first graffiti vandalism was committed!

If you are already on Place des Vosges, go to number 11.

You’ll find the tag quite easily on the wall of the arcade facing the street.

It is etched in deep scratches onto the stone pillar.

graffiti in Paris
The graffiti is found at number 11 place des Vosges © French Moments

The surprising message says:

1764 NICOLAS

graffiti in Paris
Paris’ oldest graffiti! © French Moments

That’s all!

Actually, no.

You might want to know a bit more about how it came to be etched here, in what was Paris’ most exclusive place.

For this, we have to go back in time to when Louis XV was the reigning king of France.

Nicolas Restif de la Bretonne (1734-1806) was a writer who worked in printing.

Nicolas Restif de la Bretonne
Nicolas Restif de la Bretonne

Born in Burgundy, Rétif de la Bretonne worked in a printer at Auxerre before moving to Paris.

There, he eventually became a novelist and produced a great number of books.

Rétif de la Bretonne was actually a controversial author.

He would often go out for a night-time rambling.

A walk is always good to ponder about what to write in a book, isn’t it?

However, he would be seen scratching his name on the walls of Paris.

Because of this strange habit, people gave him the surname “Le Griffon” (the scribbler).

In fact, the graffiti in Place des Vosges is the only surviving tag of Nicolas Restif de la Bretonne known in Paris.

 

How to get there

Place des Vosges Paris
The arcade of Place des Vosges © French Moments

 

 

What to see in the neighbourhood?

  • At number 6, Place des Vosges, ensure you enter Victor Hugo’s house (Maison de Victor Hugo). [closed for renovations till June 2020]
  • The Hôtel de Sully, a Louis XIII-style private mansion from the 17th century. The beautiful estate is the seat of the Centre des Monuments Nationaux (CMN), the French national organisation responsible for national heritage sites. Address: 62 rue Saint-Antoine but there is public access from Place des Vosges. You can freely walk in the garden and the grand courtyard.
  • Finally, the Carnavalet Museum showcases the history of the city. In fact it occupies two private mansions: the Hôtel Carnavalet and the former Hôtel Le Peletier de Saint Fargeau.
Place des Vosges © French Moments
Place des Vosges, Paris – the House of Victor Hugo © French Moments
Shadow of lamp post in Place des Vosges © French Moments
Shadow of lamp post in Place des Vosges © French Moments
Hôtel de Sully © French Moments
Hôtel de Sully © French Moments
The Carnavalet Mansion, Paris © French Moments
The Carnavalet Mansion, Paris © French Moments
Inner courtyard Hotel Carnavalet © French Moments
Inner courtyard of Hotel Carnavalet © French Moments

 

 

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About the author

Pierre is a French/Australian who is passionate about France and its culture. He grew up in France and Germany and has also lived in Australia and England. He has a background teaching French, Economics and Current Affairs, and holds a Master of Translating and Interpreting English-French with the degree of Master of International Relations, and a degree of Economics and Management. Pierre is the author of Discovery Courses and books about France.

Like it? Leave a comment!

  • Great insite, my 8th trip to Paris later this year. Visited Place Des Vosges last year for the first time, will go back again this year to look for the graffiti.

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