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The Rue Montorgueil has a unique “double honor”. On one hand, it is one of Paris’ oldest and most venerated shopping streets, boasting Paris’ oldest bakery, which opened its doors in the early 1700s.

On the other hand, it is one of Paris’ most trendy streets today, due in large part to its plentiful assortment of famous restaurants, cafés, cheese shops, organic groceries, wine shops, fish stores, flower stores and nearby cultural centers. As a result, the Montorgueil has become an “in” spot to “see and be seen” while doing one’s shopping in a social setting with firm roots in Paris’ history.

But where is the rue Montorgueil exactly?

Located in the middle of the very-central 2nd district, the Montorgueil has a close proximity to some of Paris’ most sought-after attractions. The Louvre museum is about 1.5 miles away, and the über-trendy Marais neighborhood is even closer, less than a mile.

There are several attractions even closer. Located at the southern end of the street are the famous Saint-Eustache Church, the Museum of Contemporary Art (Beaubourg Museum in the Georges Pompidou Center) and Les Halles, Paris’ sprawling underground shopping mall. North of the street is the old Opera house and the area known as the Grands Boulevards, with stores such as Printemps and the venerated art deco establishment, Galeries Lafayette.

On the street itself, in addition to plentiful places to shop for organic and other food, is the one-and-only Maison Stohrer, one of the most revered pastry shops (patisseries) and caterers. Elaborate frescoes and carvings decorate the front and inside.

The 2nd district is also home to a number of shopping galleries from the 18th century, such as La Gallerie Vivienne, with its ornate mosaic floor and upscale wine, tea and book shops. Earthier is the Passage Choiseul, which has a rather more New York businesslike feel, as it serves many of those who work in the nearby treasury (Bourse). Other include the Passage du Grand-Cerf , Passage des Panoramas and Passages des Princes.

In the 2nd you’ll also find la Bibliothèque Nationale de France, and the Place des Victoires, the beautiful round ’square’ with an equestrian statue of King Louis the XIVth and XVIIth architecture all around.

And of course, not far away is the beautiful Seine, rue de Rivoli and Seine.