11 Things You Miss If You Lived in Paris in the 70s or 80s
Paris in the 70s and 80s had a rhythm of its own – grittier, less polished, and full of quirks that have faded over time. The city felt slower, the streets had their own soundtrack, and everyday life had little details that made it unmistakably Parisian.
If you lived there back then, some things probably still linger in your memory – small moments, familiar sights, and habits that just don’t exist anymore.
1. The Old Les Halles Market
Before the underground shopping mall, Les Halles was a massive, chaotic food market known as le ventre de Paris (the belly of Paris). The cast-iron pavilions were torn down in 1971, changing the neighborhood forever.
2. Metro Tickets You Had to Punch
No Navigo cards, no contactless. Metro tickets were small, stiff, and had a purple stripe. You fed them into a machine, which punched a hole in them—no beeping turnstiles, just a satisfying clunk.
3. The Classic Parisian Car Scene
The streets were filled with Renault 4Ls (and R19s, R16s, R5s), Citroën 2CVs, and Peugeots with yellow headlights. Double-parking was an art form, and seatbelts were optional (or nonexistent).
4. The Old Samaritaine Department Store
This massive store near the Seine was a mix of Art Nouveau elegance and slightly rundown charm. You could find everything inside, from household goods to perfumes, until it closed in 2005 for renovations.
5. Cheap Parisian Cafés With Real Character
There were fewer chain cafés, and more troquets where you could grab a petit noir for a few francs. The regulars included old men chain-smoking Gauloises and arguing over tiercé (horse race betting).
6. The Original Saint-Germain-des-Prés Vibe
Long before the designer boutiques, the area around Café de Flore and Les Deux Magots still had traces of its existentialist past—more students, more cigarette smoke, and fewer tourists.
7. French TV Before Endless Reality Shows
With only a few channels, you either watched Antenne 2 or TF1. Kids grew up on Récré A2, and the whole country watched Le Petit Rapporteur or Les Dossiers de l’Écran at night.
8. The Seine Without Glass-Walled Tour Boats
Bateaux-Mouches existed, but you didn’t see as many oversized, glass-covered tour boats. The banks were less polished, with more locals sitting on the edge with a bottle of wine.
9. Traditional Parisian Boulangeries Without Chains
No Eric Kayser or Paul on every corner—just small, family-run boulangeries where you got your baguette wrapped in a thin paper strip. The croissants were flakier, and you didn’t need to specify tradition or classique.
10. The Louvre Before the Pyramid
Before 1989, the Louvre had no glass pyramid—just an open courtyard and a discreet entrance under the Pavillon de l’Horloge. The museum felt quieter, with fewer crowds and no long security lines. It was a place for locals and art lovers, not just a tourist hotspot.
11. Sunday Mornings That Felt Frozen in Time
Before the era of open-all-week supermarkets, Sundays were quiet. Most businesses closed, leaving only boulangeries and cafés open. The smell of roasting chickens filled the air as families gathered for long lunches.