Wasn’t Rue des Augustins once called Rue de la Jurie? This charming street in Lille’s heart holds secrets. It whispers tales of a bygone era. Rue des Augustins connects Rue du Molinel to Rue Gustave-Delory. It’s easily accessible via the Gare Lille-Flandres metro station.
The street’s name Rue des Augustins originates from a convent established in 1614. This Augustinian convent unfortunately closed at the end of the 18th century. Before the convent’s arrival the street had a different name. In 1304 it was known as Rue de la Jurie or Rue de la Juifrie. Some believe this refers to the Jewish community residing there. The street was located within the Saint-Maurice parish. This area was incorporated into Lille’s expanded city walls during the 13th century. The Saint-Sauveur parish also fell within these expanded walls.
Rue des Augustins has seen significant changes throughout history. Its original path is not the same. After the destruction during the 1914 Siege of Lille Rue du Molinel replaced narrower streets. Similarly Rue Gustave-Delory replaced other older routes. This wider street plan dates to around 1925. Even more extensive renovations took place in the early 1960s. They altered the street’s alignment. The street’s position was shifted due to renovations in the Saint-Sauveur district. The street now runs parallel to Avenue Charles Saint-Venant. The earlier Rue du Bourdeau was partially destroyed in October 1914. It was replaced by the new avenue.
The Augustinian convent was more than just a place of worship. In 1622 it founded a college. Students learned Latin Greek and rhetoric. This was despite the opposition from the Saint-Pierre college. The convent constructed its church in 1638. This was at the corner of Rue du Vieux Marché aux Moutons. It stood where the Scalbert-Dupont bank once stood. This building was under renovation in 2022 for conversion into a hotel. The monks covered the Haut-Becquerel canal in 1686. The canal ran through their property.
The convent’s prosperity in the 17th century allowed expansion. It acquired neighboring houses. The college however declined at the end of the 18th century. It closed in 1787. The remaining 23 monks were expelled in 1791. Convent buildings disappeared in the early 19th century. They were replaced by houses. Later in the mid-19th century a weaving factory replaced these buildings. The factory extended to Rue du Bourdeau. A private mansion for the Boutry-Van Isselteyn family was also built.
The Sainte-Claire institution a private college and high school was built in 1887 alongside Rue des Augustins. Buildings on the odd-numbered side of the street were destroyed by bombing during the Siege of Lille. They were rebuilt in Neo-Flemish style around 1930. Buildings near Rue Gustave-Delory were replaced by a building constructed in the 1960s.
Rue des Augustins offers more than just a walk through time. It’s a journey through Lille’s rich layered history. The street has witnessed transformations adapting to the changing city.