National Geographic, TF1’s 13 heures, Ouest France, France 3, France Bleu… All agree that Gassin does indeed have the narrowest street in the world!
But that doesn’t stop some places around the world from trying to compete for this title.
So let’s embark on a tour of some of the world’s narrowest streets!
Fan Tan Alley is no match for us
A long way from our medieval village of 2,500 souls, the first competitor is located in the metropolis of Victoria, the capital of the Canadian province of British Columbia.
The excessiveness of the population is matched – alas for this competitor – by the excessiveness of the narrowness. This alleyway measures 90 centimetres at its narrowest point… It’s home to a variety of businesses, and is sometimes called the narrowest commercial street in North America… Which is a far cry from the universal title to which the Androuno is entitled!
As its name suggests – it refers to a Chinese game of chance – it is located in the “Chinatown” district, where opium dens once stood. It appears in the film Comme un oiseau sur la branche: Mel Gibson, riding a motorcycle, crosses it.
Mårten Trotzigs Gränd: the little street from the north
Was the Mårten Trotzig alley created to bring residents closer together on cold days? This competitor comes to us from Sweden, more precisely from the old part of Stockholm. It narrows to just 90 centimetres at its narrowest point. It’s probably the narrowest street in Stockholm… and maybe in Sweden, but certainly not in the world!
It went through several names in its history before reverting to its 17th-century name, that of a wealthy merchant who owned several properties on the street. He was murdered in 1617 during a voyage… For tourism and for the narrowest street, it’s definitely worth choosing Gassin!
Exeter’s Parliament Street, a good place to get involved
Rue du Parlement is a relatively long street in this ranking, extending over 50 meters… But that’s not what this ranking is about. And the city of Exeter, in Devon, England, can’t compete with Androuno in terms of narrowness.
At its narrowest point, it measures 64 centimetres (and around 1.22 metres at its widest).
La Strada Sforii: good, but can do less
Rue de la Corde takes us to the edge of Europe, to the town of Brașov in Romania.
Dating from the 17th century, it would have been designed to give firefighters access to perpendicular streets and adjoining buildings in the event of a fire. It is 80 metres long and between 111 and 135 centimetres wide, almost a metre wider than the Androuno! With such dimensions, Gassin could compete with the Rue de la Tasco or the Rue des Templiers!
Paris thinks big with its two lanes but doesn’t go beyond qualifications
With no fewer than 6,500 streets, the French capital thought it could take part in this tough competition for the narrowest street.
But its two best forwards, Rue du Chat-qui-Pêche and Sentier des Merisiers, are far from up to scratch this season.
The first, at 180 centimetres wide, could not only let a man pass from the front, but also lengthways! It’s more likely to be relegated.
With a width of 90 centimetres, the sentier des Merisiers rivals the narrowest of alleys.
We’re a long way from the double here, and any remountada seems out of reach. But nothing is lost for Paris: perhaps in the near future, to reduce the presence of cars, the decision will be taken to create streets that, like l’Androuno, only allow the passage of one man? In any case, if you come to discover Gassin and l’Androuno, you should know that all parking lots in the commune are free!
In Venice, the Italian record takes on water
Venice’s Calle Varisco measures 53 centimetres at its narrowest point!
We’re still a long way from the record… This street could claim another record, that of being multimodal: if you enter on foot, you can only leave by boat.
Other competitors in Italy
Civitella del Tronto also boasts the narrowest street in Italy.
At its widest point, the Ruetta d’Italia measures 66 centimetres, ending at 40 centimetres at its narrowest point. This medieval alleyway is said to have been created as military protection, to prevent a mass influx into the area.
200 kilometers away, in Termoli, in the Molise province of Campobasso, there’s a track called A Rejecelle. Its minimum width is just 41 centimetres. Other contenders for the Italian record are the Vicolo San Bartolomeo in Andia, Puglia (42 centimetres), the Ripatransone in Ascoli Piceno, Marche (43 centimetres) and the Vico Ciacianella, a lane in Lucera, Foggia (45 centimetres).
Eispfad Rüdesheim am Rhein
This alley runs through a building that demarcates the old part of Rüdesheim from the modern part. It was used by pedestrians during periods of extreme cold or when the Rhine flooded. There are no known measurements, but this alleyway is clearly not in a position to claim the record!
The street of Klančić
In many ways, Vrbnik resembles Gassin: this Croatian village has just a few hundred inhabitants. While Gassin is perched on the Saint-Tropez peninsula, Vrbnik is on the island of Krk. Both areas are also famous for their vineyards. And, of course, both have one of the narrowest streets in the world.
At its narrowest, the rue de Klančić measures just forty centimeters or so. And if Gassin is the village of witches, here, this alley would be the work of the “malčić”, little local devils…. Don’t hesitate to visit the page dedicated by the Croatian tourist office to find out more!
A serious French competitor: rue de l’Enfer
Located in Les Sables-d’Olonnes, rue de l’Enfer is 40 cm wide at ground level and 46.5 cm at 1 m from the ground at its narrowest point.
Thanks to the kindness of one of its inhabitants, it was possible to verify that this alley, a serious competitor, did not totally rival Androuno.
Spreuerhofstraße: Androuno’s main rival misses out on the title by… 2 centimetres!
Spreuerhofstraße is located in Reutlingen in the German state of Baden-Württemberg.
In the residential area around Mauerstraße, this industrial town has a passageway between two houses, known as Spreuerhofstraße. At its narrowest point, it comes close to the Androuno record: it measures 31 centimetres. At its widest, it measures 50 centimetres. It is thought to be contemporary with the Androuno, having been designed when this part of the city was rebuilt after a fire in 1726.
Androuno is indeed the narrowest street in the world!
At 29 centimetres at its narrowest, Androuno is the narrowest street in the world.
A witch’s trick? Sheep selection and counting tools? Obligation for a man-at-arms to show his flank? According to geographers, these “covered passages provide effective ramparts against the onslaught of the mistral, summer heatwaves, spring sleet and snow showers”. That’s why you’ll find so many alleyways of this type in the Mediterranean.
