Picture this Avenue Berthe in the heart of Montmartre. A seemingly ordinary Parisian street. Yet its quiet cobblestones whisper tales of a bygone era. Avenue Berthe is more than just a street. It’s a living time capsule. A snapshot of 1940s Paris frozen in time.
For a brief period Avenue Berthe and its neighboring Rue Androuet were transformed. They became a movie set. The film Adieu Monsieur Haffmann was being shot. The filmmakers recreated 1940s Montmartre with incredible detail. Fake shop facades sprang up. A sweet shop a lingerie boutique even a historic post box appeared. The road markings vanished. The cobblestones were aged and weathered to perfection.
Imagine strolling down Avenue Berthe. You see a barber shop. A pharmacy. A jewelry store. Even a hat shop awaits. This is not just a film set. It is a meticulous recreation of life in 1941. Every detail is painstakingly accurate. The year is clearly 1941.
But Avenue Berthe’s story doesn’t start in the 1940s. Its past extends much further. The street was originally named Rue du Poirier. This was due to a magnificent pear tree. The tree once stood proudly. It was in the gardens of a popular tavern. The tavern was known as the Poirier sans Pareil. The tavern itself was situated on Rue Ravignan.
Avenue Berthe is also home to a building that played a role in Montmartre’s history. At number 20 stands a small pavilion. This pavilion was once a painter’s studio. In 1922 it transformed. It became La Petite Chaumiere. This was Montmartre’s first transvestite cabaret.
The cabaret was small. It only occupied two rooms on the ground floor. This closeness brought people together. The cabaret was run by Monsieur Tagada. A talented performer named Zigouigoui entertained the guests. This cabaret became a legendary part of Montmartre’s nightlife.
Later Avenue Berthe was used as a setting in the beloved film Amelie. The greengrocer on the corner of Rue Androuet. It’s the very same shop. It is the one featured in that famous French movie.
Avenue Berthe is a quiet unassuming street. It is tucked away in Montmartre. Yet it holds a wealth of history. From its beginnings as Rue du Poirier. Through its transformation into a 1940s film set. To its role in the story of La Petite Chaumiere. Avenue Berthe’s quiet charm hides a rich and vibrant past. It is a street that deserves to be explored. It is a street that holds a story for everyone. A story that unfolds with every step you take.