For most tourists, gazing up at Paris’ iconic Haussman architecture is a romantic, if not religious, experience. But skateboarding is all about looking down, around, behind, and in between tourist traps for the unseen and undervalued. ⁠ ⁠ Along with notable plazas such as Le Dome, La Defense, and Trocadero Gardens, Paris offers a huge swathe of unique spots for skaters, such as L'embacle Fountain, a photogenic, enticing, and challenging sculpture that begs for a creative approach.⁠ ⁠ From visual art to culinary heritage, it’s a city defined by culture and designed to be navigated on foot, and with easy access by rail to other satellite cities, Paris has become one of Europe’s most important cultural drivers for skateboarding.⁠ ⁠ Prior to the advent and popularity of street skating, the concept of a “skate city” was almost nil. Most urban enclaves lacked empty pools or wooden ramps popular in the ‘70s and ‘80s. Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, Barcelona, and London weren’t cities you moved to pursue skateboarding, they were places you either came from or visited en route to a session outside the city limits.⁠ ⁠ Although it’s seen as one of the most influential cities in skateboarding in 2022, Paris was rarely seen through such a lens. But as skateboarding’s global reach grew in the ‘90s through 411 Video Magazine — who many refer to as “skateboarding’s internet before the internet” – previously untapped cities around the world started to get their shine.⁠ ⁠ So how does a city like Paris go from overlooked to essential?⁠ ⁠ Hit the link in our bio to read more.⁠ ⁠ ✍️: @anthony_pappa 📷️: Highsnobiety/Richard Hart at Push Periodical