The Walk of Love: A Quiet Pilgrimage in Paris

In the heart of Paris, a singular work of public art continues to draw visitors not with spectacle, but with sincerity. The Wall of “I Love You” (Le mur des je t’aime) is a poetic installation composed of 612 enameled tiles, each inscribed with the phrase “I love you” in one of 311 languages. Conceived by artist Frédéric Baron and calligrapher Claire Kito, the wall is more than a visual experience—it is a living archive of affection, a linguistic tapestry of longing and belonging.

But what makes this site truly remarkable is not just the wall itself—it’s the walk that leads to it. Known as the “Walk of Love,” this collaborative route invites participants to engage with the city and each other in a spirit of openness. It’s not a guided tour, nor a performance. It’s a shared movement through space, where each step becomes part of a collective gesture. Visitors are encouraged to reflect, to connect, and to contribute—whether through spoken word, silence, or simply presence.

The wall stands in Jehan-Rictus Square, a modest garden that becomes a sanctuary for those seeking something quieter than spectacle. Here, love is not commodified—it is democratized. The installation resists the polished narratives of romance and instead offers something more universal: the right to say “I love you,” in any language, to anyone, or to no one in particular.

The story of the Wall of “I Love You” begins not with stone or tile, but with a notebook and a question: how do you say “I love you”?

In 1992, Frédéric Baron, a Parisian musician and dreamer, began collecting handwritten declarations of love from people all over the world. He knocked on doors, visited embassies, and asked strangers to write the phrase in their native language. Over the course of eight years, he gathered more than a thousand expressions of love—some in widely spoken tongues, others in rare or endangered dialects.

Baron’s vision was not just linguistic—it was deeply human. He imagined a wall that would unite rather than divide, a surface that could hold the weight of affection across cultures. He partnered with calligrapher Claire Kito, who helped transform the collection into a visual composition. Together, they selected the most poetic and melodious versions of “I love you” and inscribed them onto 612 enameled lava tiles.

It’s a deliberate inversion of what a wall typically represents. Instead of separation, it offers reconciliation. Instead of silence, it speaks in every voice. Baron described it as a tribute to peace, a place where love could be expressed freely and inclusively.

Today, the wall is not just a static artwork—it’s the emotional destination of the Walk of Love, a collaborative journey through the city that invites reflection, connection, and shared presence. Visitors don’t just look at the wall—they contribute to its meaning by arriving with their own stories, their own languages, their own ways of saying “I love you.”

Whether you walk it with someone, or alone with your thoughts, the Walk of Love is a gentle reminder: Paris doesn’t just dazzle—it listens.

The wall is open to the public daily, and the walk begins whenever you decide to take part. No ticket required—only the willingness to walk with love.

Square Jehan Rictus, Place des Abbesses, 75018 Paris

Métro Abbesses (ligne 12)

Entrée libre

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