If you go down to Avenue Des Gobelins today, you’re in for a big surprise. This quiet, unassuming neighbourhood is now home to more than fifty giant teddy bears. And it all seems strangely normal. Nobody bats an eye as they kick back with a café au lait among their fellow Parisians. From the city that gave us Amelie, the giant teddy bears are just one of the surprising reasons, that for me, Paris never disappoints.
Why are Giant Teddy Bears in Paris?
In autumn 2018, book shop owner Philippe Labourel introduced giant teddy bears to his neighbourhood. His aim was simply to spread joy and connect to fellow shop owners – some of whom he’d never spoken to before. A life-long fan of “stuffies”, Labourel has his own “doudou” to accompany him through life.
He was then apparently informed that Gorille, (the doudou in question) needed his own stuffed counterpart. And “Super Gorille” entered the fray. Obviously, Super Gorille now needed his own doudou – and you get the picture. The next doudou just happened to be a giant teddy bear who came with three relatives who all insisted on joining the party. And the rest as they say is history.
The origins of the Giant Teddy Bears
The first bear appeared in Labourel’s shop window in June 2018 and by mid-October Giant teddy bear mania hit the streets. Bears were rented out like hot cakes for 48-hour periods – always for free. At one point, they were spotted parading through the Grand Hotel des Gobelins where 37 of them appeared in the window. The local police station also got in on the act by apprehending two bears who they named Starsky and Hutch. With an unstoppable skill set, there are now teddy bears distributing vaccines in the pharmacy, offering tastings in the wine shop and serving up cakes in the local bakery.
Giant teddy bear wedding
There’s even been a teddy bear wedding which took place in April 2019 after the bears retreated for a brief winter hibernation period. The nuptials attracted a crowd of 2,800 onlookers. You can see the video here. Not ones to do things by halves, the teddy bears took over the town hall – joining the ranks of A-listers such as Raquel Welch and Patrick Curtis who also wed there.
Where can you find the Giant Teddy Bears?
You need to head to Avenue des Gobelins which is in the thirteen arrondissement, near Place D’Italie and a short walk from the Jardin des Plantes. It’s an unmemorable area which makes the Teddy Bear invasion all the more fascinating. There are now more than fifty bears in the area – only Labourel knows the exact number. But in keeping with the innocence of childhood, it’s good to note that the bears were bought for no other reason than to bring joy into people’s daily existence.
However, the adventurous bears also frequent other parts of Paris and have been sighted in far flung areas from New York to Sri Lanka where they visit “cousins” who in turn visit them. In Avenue des Gobelins, you can see them in a variety of poses: from doing gymnastics on balconies to reading in bookstores and even driving cars. And it seems their influence has crossed the manche. Yes, I’ve even spotted one on the London Underground below.
How big are the teddy bears?
The average bear is around 1.4 meters tall (about 4 feet 7) and weighs around 4.9 kilograms (11 pounds). However, there are reports of one teddy bear reaching a dizzying height of 2.4 metres (almost eight feet) which would make an interesting encounter on a dark winter evening.
The French call Teddy Bears “nounours” and they of course have their own nounours des Gobelins Facebook page. Since finding fame, they’ve exhibited at the National Archives and have even appeared on a Gay Pride float. They’re a symbol of the City’s unique whimsical charm and one I hope will endure for many years to come.