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The Left Bank of Paris — the Rive Gauche.
In this city where art and culture breathe through every street,
Toko Amemiya — a Paris-based freelance announcer — shares the everyday scenes and favorite places that have become part of her life.
Please enjoy the third installment of the series “La Vie Rive Gauche.”

Rue Guénégaud

Many people would probably say that one of the great pleasures of being in Paris is visiting its flea markets.
Beyond the classic spots like Clignancourt and Vanves, I even know people who plan their trips to France around the twice-a-year irregular markets. A buyer friend of mine goes not only to Paris’s flea markets but also all the way to the one in Lille, traveling in search of that one special piece — and I’ve had the chance to witness that kind of passion up close.

However, on the Left Bank, there is a place quite different from the usual flea markets—one that I especially hope those with a keen sensibility will visit.
That place is rue Guénégaud in the 6th arrondissement.

Named after the residence of Henri de Précis-Guénégaud, a politician from the era of Louis XIV, this street carries an intellectual atmosphere once shaped by the salons that gathered cultural figures of the time. Today, lined with elegant apartments and art galleries, it remains an area imbued with the refined grace so characteristic of the Left Bank.

Among the places that make you stop in your tracks is Galerie Luc Allemand.
Luc, the owner, is not only my close friend Maho’s husband’s dear friend, but someone whose eye for beauty I’ve admired for nearly twenty years. Even before he opened his gallery on this street, I was often struck by his impeccable taste when seeing his selections at various occasional markets around Paris.

He also takes part in international fairs such as PAD Paris, where his booth showcases a curated selection of truly exceptional pieces.

Luc specializes in modern design—particularly furniture, lighting, and objects from the latter half of the 20th century.
His collection includes pieces that stir the heart of any collector, such as works by Charlotte Perriand, which I dream of welcoming into my home someday, and lighting by Mathieu Matégot, renowned for his technique of “treating metal like fabric.”

Hunting for treasures at flea markets is wonderful in its own way, but spending time in galleries like this—encountering the real thing, nurturing one’s aesthetic sense, and gently sharpening the outline of one’s sensibility—
that, too, may be one of Paris’s unique luxuries.

Galerie Luc Allemand
23 rue Guénégaud
Paris VI
+33618475118
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Profile | Toko Amemiya
Freelance announcer and essayist.
After six years as an announcer at TBS, she left the network and moved to Paris, France, where she studied French and Western art history.
From 2016, she served as a news anchor for NEWS23 for three years.
Currently, she is active as a writer and also runs her YouTube channel, “Toko AMEMIYA in Paris.”
Her recent book, “MY HOME, MY LIFE.” (published by Kobunsha), offers a glimpse into her life and reflections in Paris.