Was it fate that led you to the Allée du Roule? This Parisian street has a story to tell. It is located in the 1st arrondissement of Paris in France. Let’s explore its past.
The Rue du Roule begins at 136 Rue de Rivoli. It ends at 77 Rue Saint-Honoré. Though relatively narrow the Rue du Roule has always been busy. It was a vital artery of Paris. It extends to Rue des Prouvaires near Les Halles and the Église Saint-Eustache. On the other side it extends to Rue de la Monnaie and Pont-Neuf. Today traffic is lighter thanks to the Pont-Neuf underpass.
According to Jaillot the street’s name comes from the old fief du Roule. This area had some old houses.
In 1689 King Louis XIV approved the opening of a new street. It would run opposite Rue des Prouvaires on Rue Saint-Honoré. It would lead through Rue de la Monnaie to Pont-Neuf. This would greatly improve access from the Saint-Eustache area to the Faubourg Saint-Germain. The King ordered the street to be opened.
In 1691 this new street was opened as the Rue du Roule. Its name came from the fief du Roule. The main building of the fief the Hôtel du Roule was located on this street. It sat at the corner of Rue des Fossés-Saint-Germain-l’Auxerrois.
In 1702 the Rue du Roule was part of the Louvre district. It had 28 houses and 8 lanterns.
Jean-Louis Fargeon’s old perfumery was at numbers 11 and 15. An interesting wrought iron balcony can still be seen there. At number 12 was the shop of Georges Malbeste. He was an engraver and maker of financial papers in the 1820s and 1830s. Look out for the decorated street sign at number 2.
The Rue du Roule has seen much change over the centuries. It connects different parts of Paris. It has been a place of trade craftsmanship and daily life. As you stroll along the Allée du Roule imagine the people who walked here before you. Consider the goods that were sold and the stories that unfolded. This street is a small piece of Paris history.