The Bears of Gobelins

As you approach the intersection of Avenue des Gobelins and Boulevard Saint-Marcel you will start to notice giant teddy bears “dining” on restaurant terraces or as part of a store window display. The epicenter is at the aforementioned intersections where during summer months, dozens of bears hang from nearly every window of a sizable apartment building.  

It all started in the summer of 2018, when Philippe Labourel, who owns the book shop at 25 Avenue des Gobelins, wanted to do something for the neighborhood to put smiles on faces. After putting some of the bears on display, he started to loan a few out to anyone who put in a request. Soon, many other vendors and institutions in the area followed suit. Summer 2019 marks just the second year of this newly minted tradition.