It's a nightmare for cyclists, runners and other pedestrians: the steepest streets in Paris have the merit of making us breathe a lot, sweat a little, and above all, muscle up our calves-thighs-buttocks in pain. While most of them are to be found on the implacable Montmartre hill and its 1001 staircases, the capital's other arrondissements are also full of surprises.
1. Rue Foyatier (and its hellish staircases), 36%.
At the top of the ranking, we find - not without surprise - rue Foyatier, made up almost entirely of staircases, with a gradient of 36%! And with good reason: it's the famous street that leads up to the Butte de Montmartre, from the Place Suzanne Valadon (located at the Montmartre funicular departure station), which we all know to be a tough climb.
2. Rue Gasnier-Guy, 17.4
Less well known, this street is located in the 20th arrondissement, not far from Place Martin-Nadaud and Père-Lachaise cemetery.
3. Rue de Ménilmontant, 14% of sales
This is one of the streets that, once climbed, offers an exceptional view of Paris from the 20th arrondissement. However, you'll have to earn it, with a 14% gradient!
4. Rue Ravignan, 13.6 % gradient
Just behind the "Je t'aime" wall on the Montmartre hilltop, rue Ravignan is one of the steepest streets in Paris.
5. Rue Tourlaque, 9.5
Still in the 18th arrondissement - definitely the steepest in Paris - rue Tourlaque completes the list. It is located near the Montmartre cemetery, where you'll find the graves of Dalida, France Gall, Alexandre Dumas and many others.
6. Rue de Belleville, 5.5 %.
Between the 11th and 20th arrondissements, rue de Belleville has a lovely slope, which you can stroll along to discover the 20th arrondissement's Chinatown, with its not-to-be-missed Chinese New Year parade. It links the Belleville and Porte des Lilas metro stations.
7. Rue des Martyrs, 4.9%.
This time, we're off to the 9th arrondissement to discover Rue des Martyrs and its almost 5% gradient. It links Boulevard de Clichy to rue Saint-Lazare.
8. Rue de Crimée, 4.7% gradient
An essential street in the 19th arrondissement, rue de Crimée links the banks of the Canal de l'Ourcq (at Place Stalingrad) with the bucolic Parc des Buttes-Chaumont.
9. Avenue Gambetta, 4.4%.
Also in the 20th arrondissement - the 18th and 20th arrondissements are officially the steepest in Paris - avenue Gambetta takes you from place Gambetta to porte des Lilas.
10. Rue de Clignancourt, 3.4%.
Still in the 18th arrondissement, rue de Clignancourt doesn't overshadow the streets of Butte Montmartre, but it does have a 3.4% gradient!
If you like running(and hill-climbing), this is the place to get your cardio pumping: for the rest of us, we wish you the best of luck if one of these streets comes your way!
