The most reputed of literary cafés
of the 18th century....
The Procope was known for its ice creams and coffee that were served
but also for its ambiance.
When in 1689 French comedy set up not far from the café, the Procope
quickly became a place for rendez-vous of literary and theatre critics,
writers and philosophers. The Fontaine and Marivaux were also frequented.
It was the most reputed of literary cafés of the 18th century.
It was also at Café Procope that Beaumarchais came to hide out
while waiting to know how the public would receive his first representation
of the Marriage of Figaro that was playing at the Odeon.
It was also at the Procope where the idea to create an Encyclopedia took
place following a conversation between Diderot and Alembert.
Place of meetings and exchanges of encyclopedia writers, Voltaire, Rousseau,
came during the day to share over a coffee their ideals of progress that
gave birth to the liberal ideas of the 18th century.
Revolutionary café then Romantic
café Several years later it was here that revolutionary ideas were exchanged.
Robespierre, Danton, Marat joined together. It was here that the ideas
were formed that caused the downfall of the monarchy. The printers where
Marat edited the revolutionary paper « Friend of the People » was
situated just behind the café. It was sais that at Procope, where
it should have been decided to attack the Tuileries in June 1792. It
was also here that the first red revolutionary beret appeared. Benjamin
Franklin wrote a chapter in the American constitution.
The Procope became many years later the haunt
of the Romantics. You could see George Sand and Alfred de Musset.
But also Balzac, Hugo, Théophile Gautier. The café Procope
maintained its vocation of literary café for three centuries
welcoming equally Verlaine or Oscar Wilde.
Several years later it was here that revolutionary ideas were exchanged.
Robespierre, Danton, Marat joined together. It was here that the ideas
were formed that caused the downfall of the monarchy. The printers where
Marat edited the revolutionary paper « Friend of the People » was
situated just behind the café. It was sais that at Procope, where
it should have been decided to attack the Tuileries in June 1792. It
was also here that the first red revolutionary beret appeared. Benjamin
Franklin wrote a chapter in the American constitution.