Place des Beaux-Sons

The Place des Beaux-Sons in Aubervilliers serves as the first designated point d'ouïe, or point of hearing, in France. While cities are often mapped by their visual landmarks, this small public space was created specifically to focus on the acoustic landscape. Artists from the company Decor Sonore identified this spot at the intersection of Rue Emma Chenu and Rue Julie-Victoire Daubié for its unusual acoustic properties. Because of its location, it is naturally buffered from the heavy mechanical noise of the nearby major roads and the Paris ring boulevard, allowing visitors to experience a rare zone of quiet and ambient sound in a densely urban area.