“A druidic altar once stood here.” That’s the whisper the stones of Rue de la Pierre-Levée seem to share. This street in Paris’s 11th arrondissement has a past far older than its 1782 creation.
Rue de la Pierre-Levée is a slice of Parisian history. It measures 267 meters long and 12 meters wide. The street runs in a straight line. It angles slightly from north-northwest to south-southeast.
Imagine the Paris of 1782. The Faubourg du Temple lay just outside the old city walls. Workers unearthed a large stone during construction. Locals believed the stone was a druidic altar. This discovery gave the street its original name Rue Pierre Levée.
In 1795 Paris was divided into arrondissements. Rue Pierre-Levée became part of the old 6th arrondissement. The area was then known as the Temple district.
However, the street wasn’t always reputable. From 1818 to 1825 police shut it down. It had become too dangerous. Even then Rue de la Pierre-Levée was not fully developed.
But time changes everything. The street received its current name by official decree.
Look around. The buildings lining Rue de la Pierre-Levée show Parisian architecture. They reflect the style of the 1830s and 1840s.
Number 4 holds a special secret. Here stands the former Loebnitz faience factory. Architect Paul Sédille designed it in 1884. He was also the mind behind the Printemps department stores. The factory has workshops on one side. It also has staff housing on the other.
Émile Lévy and Lazar Meyer created ceramic panels for the façade. Jules Paul Loebnitz completed the work. These panels once adorned the Fine Arts pavilion at the 1878 World’s Fair. Loebnitz added a fourth panel. This panel advertised ceramics. Remarkably the building’s original kilns still exist below ground.
At number 8 Camille Flers married Louise Adèle Clauss. Her father Jean Marx Clauss owned a porcelain factory. He founded it on Rue de la Pierre-Levée in 1805.
Finally note number 17. Henri Gambey died here in 1847. He was a member of the Academy of Sciences. He also invented precision instruments.
In recent years Rue de la Pierre-Levée has seen greening efforts. The city planted trees and flowerbeds here. This aims to improve the quality of life for residents.
So as you walk Rue de la Pierre-Levée remember its layers. From ancient altars to 19th-century workshops this street encapsulates Parisian history. It blends legend with everyday life.