The Flâneur

In the rush and chaotic heartbeat of the city, there was someone wandering gently and quietly—an observer, a philosopher of the streets. That was the flâneur, walking to sink themselves into the kaleidoscope of urban life. They do not aim to reach a destination; they want to go into the deepest part of the urban area and swallow up all its details—its architecture, its inhabitants, and its secrets. Immortalized especially by Charles Baudelaire, the flâneur has its roots in the boulevards of 19th-century Paris.

With every step the flâneur takes, they create a story from scratch because they can catch the details that no one else can see in the magic of the fast-flowing city. They are the voice of a voiceless, an artist, or a witness, interpreting the harmony in the chaos of the city with an eye attuned to beauty. Baudelaire described the flâneur as a “connoisseur” of the mundane. Among the overwhelmed faces of robotic bodies and the endless ear-splitting noise of the city, the flâneur detaches themselves from boredom and monotony and devotes themselves to analyzing the surroundings and individual entertainment. Though they seem to be a part of the city in a way, they are like a spectator far away from the city’s scene and identity.

So, can we be flâneurs too at this time? When visiting a city or place we have never visited before, as tourists, I think we also experience a similar sense of being a flâneur. Calmly absorbing every part of the city without any worries or rushing to get somewhere or catch the bus; just enjoying the moment, vibe, and presence of the city may be the moments when we feel the most comfort and serenity.