pavées

Pavées are paving stones used to create durable outdoor surfaces, particularly streets, plazas, and sidewalks. The term comes from the French pavée (paved) and is used in both French and English to describe stone blocks laid to form a surface.

Common materials include granite, limestone, sandstone, and basalt, though historically other stones such as schist or quartzite were used. Pavées come in several forms, notably cobbles (rounded stones) and setts (rectangular quarried blocks). Larger flat slabs, sometimes called paving slabs or dalles, are also used for pavements.

In historical contexts, pavées were standard in many European towns from late medieval times onward, providing load-bearing surfaces that could withstand weather and traffic. Roman-era roads used dressed stones, and throughout the 18th–19th centuries many cities expanded pavé networks. The choice of pattern—random, grid, or slightly curved layouts—affects appearance, drainage, and maintenance.

Today, pavées remain a characteristic feature of historic districts and certain pedestrian zones, as well as revival projects that aim to preserve or recreate traditional streets. They can require specialized maintenance, such as repointing mortar joints or lifting and resetting stones, and may present accessibility challenges compared with smooth asphalt or concrete surfaces. Some modern pavings use permeable joints to improve drainage or reduce surface runoff.