Smallest house in Paris

Located at 39 Rue du Château-d’Eau, this is known as the smallest house in Paris. Measuring just 1.40 meters (4.6 feet) in width and 5 meters (16 feet) in height, it stands as a narrow structure tucked between two larger buildings. Its construction dates back to the early 19th century and is believed to have resulted from a family inheritance dispute over a large parcel of land between rue du Château-d’Eau and rue du Faubourg Saint-Martin. The disagreement led to the creation of this tiny building, which was used to block off a passageway leading to Faubourg Saint-Martin.

The ground floor, designated for commercial use, has seen a variety of tenants over the years. According to a January 6, 1897 archive from the newspaper Le Gaulois, a shoemaker operated a shop here throughout the latter half of the 19th century. Today, this 4-square-meter space houses a ready-to-wear store that continues to make the most of its limited dimensions creatively.

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Photo: Tangopaso, Wikimedia Commons