La Vieille France, a Parisian patisserie founded nearly two centuries ago

Born in the heart of the Paris of yesteryear, La Vieille France is one of those sweet houses that carry all the weight of tradition in their name. Founded in 1834, it is reinventing itself today in the Laumière district but retains a tenuous link with its first addresses, notably in the 6ᵉ arrondissement.

A pastry, chocolate and confectionery house, it embodies a family history of traditional gestures and adaptation over the decades.

A cradle in the Paris of yesteryear

The first Vieille France opens its doors on rue de Buci, in the 6ᵉ arrondissement. It was part of an era when tearooms and patisseries were becoming new social venues, but it stood out for its constancy: remaining a house of artisanal sweet specialties, without melting into fashion.

Over the course of the 19ᵉ century, it gathered a loyal local clientele who appreciated its calm, taste and authenticity. When it migrated to the 19ᵉ arrondissement, its craftsmanship evolved with the arrival of viennoiseries, breads, chocolate and confectionery, but also homemade creations.

The taste of yesteryear mixed with change

La Vieille France doesn't just live in the past, it also embraces creations from Japan, such as matcha tea éclairs and green tea crèmes brûlées. These creative choices reveal how an old house can dialogue with contemporary taste without betraying its identity.

However, the sweet menu remains dominated by classic lemon tarts, millefeuilles, fresh seasonal fruit tarts and all kinds of viennoiseries.

• To be read
• Ladurée, the French macaroon legend since 1862
• Carette, the timeless charm of the Parisian tea room since 1927
• At Le Petit Versailles in the Marais, one of Paris's oldest pastry shops with a preserved decor

A homey atmosphere for the neighborhood

Located near the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, La Vieille France welcomes local residents, strollers and families to the 19ᵉ arrondissement. The discreet decor reflects tradition without seeking ostentatious pomp. Today run by Olivier Hermabessière, La Vieille France is careful to combine heritage and renewal, assuming its roots while continuing to attract a younger clientele. And loyal customers are not mistaken, evoking "rediscovered childhood tastes".

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