Place Sainte Marthe

Place Sainte Marthe is a distinct anomaly within the dense urban fabric of the tenth arrondissement. Built during the nineteenth century, it served as one of the capital's earliest and most experimental housing developments for the working class. While many of the grand neighborhoods nearby were being overhauled by Baron Haussmann’s sweeping urban renovations, this pocket remained a quiet, self-contained village that prioritized a different kind of living. The architecture is characterized by its colorful, low-rise facades and a human scale that feels intentionally disconnected from the imposing boulevards surrounding it.