Rue de la Rivièrette

Can a street whisper secrets of a forgotten river? Here on Rue de la Riviérette, the whispers are faint, but they’re there. Rue de la Riviérette isn’t just a street. It’s a memory. A memory of the Riviérette, the small canal that once flowed through it, giving the street its name. Look around. Imagine the gentle flow of water beneath your feet. The Riviérette, a small waterway originating south of Lille, once flowed right where we stand, eventually joining the Becquerel near Rue des Tanneurs. Rue de la Riviérette is a narrow, elbow-shaped street in the Lille-Centre district. It’s in the old parish of Saint-Maurice. The street appeared in the 16th century, marked on Guichardin’s map of 1560. It was built on the site of the old ramparts after the fourth enlargement of Lille in 1603. For a time, it bore the name “Rue de l’A.B.C.” This unusual name came from a school founded in 1584 at the corner of the street and the Porte du Molinel. The street held more than just students and scholars. Around 1900, Rue de l’A.B.C., as it was then known, was a street of prostitution. The 20th century brought demolition and reconstruction, transforming the street’s appearance. The low houses that once lined the street were demolished. In 1951, it was renamed Rue de la Riviérette, reclaiming a piece of its watery past. Even recent times have seen changes. A large, neoclassical building from the late 18th century, standing proudly at the corner of Rue du Molinel, was demolished in 2006. It was replaced by a modern apartment building. Today, Rue de la Riviérette is a mix of old and new. Recent constructions and property walls dominate the landscape. But look closely, and you might find a vestige of the past, perhaps a lone 18th-century house with an oculus high above. Rue de la Riviérette. It is a narrow street, just 3 to 5 meters wide. It’s a street that has seen Lille grow and change around it, carrying the quiet whisper of a forgotten river.