Jveuxdusoleil App Finds Sunny Terraces in Paris
2025-08-22
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Image source: theguardian.com
## App Helps Parisians Locate Sunny Terraces Amidst Summer Exodus
Each August, Paris experiences a significant population decrease as residents depart for summer vacations. While businesses often close and the city slows, the traditional Parisian pursuit of finding a sun-drenched terrace for an evening *apéritif* persists. This year, a mobile application called **Jveuxdusoleil** (“I want sun”) is offering a technological solution to this familiar quest.
## How Jveuxdusoleil Works
Created in 2020 by Jean-Charles Levenne as a personal project, Jveuxdusoleil leverages sun-positioning algorithms and open-source map data to identify terraces currently bathed in sunlight. Users can contribute to the app by suggesting new locations and reporting inaccuracies in shadow placement. While the app’s functionality is universal, it is particularly useful in Paris, where dense urban architecture often obscures sunlight. The app currently has over 1,300 active users.
## Revitalizing Bistro Culture
The rise of Jveuxdusoleil comes at a time when France is grappling with the decline of its traditional bistro culture. Once numbering half a million nationwide in 1900, bistros have dwindled to fewer than 40,000, with approximately 1,000 remaining in Paris, prompting campaigns for UNESCO World Heritage status to aid preservation. Photographer and journalist Pierrick Bourgault notes that these terraces represent a valuable “art de vivre” – a space for social connection amidst a changing world.
## A Passion Project with a Wider Resonance
Jean-Charles Levenne, now working as a yacht captain in the Balearic Islands, maintains the app as a passion project. Despite its limited visibility, Jveuxdusoleil reflects a growing desire to reconnect with physical spaces and appreciate simple pleasures, potentially contributing to the revitalization of Parisian bistro culture.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/aug/21/sunniest-cafe-paris-app-jveuxdusoleil
