“Rue Royale” that’s what Rue du Landy was called once, in the old village of Clichy. It’s a name that evokes a different age, when the land was mainly farmland and fields. The current Rue du Landy is a bustling street in the northwest of Paris, full of shops, restaurants, and local life. It’s a part of Clichy, a suburb of Paris, with its own distinct character. This long street runs parallel to the Seine River.
The Rue du Landy was once the main route into the village. Its name comes from the “Champ du Lendit,” a plain where a famous fair, the Foire du Lendit, was held for centuries. The fair was a huge event in the past. The fair was held in the plain located between the “pas de La Chapelle” and Saint-Denis. It was a massive gathering of people and was renowned for its merchants, entertainers, and religious ceremonies. In the Middle Ages, the road that is now Rue du Landy saw much activity and bustle due to this fair. Clichy was mostly rural until the 16th century, as it focused mostly on wine production.
The Rue du Landy is a place that seems to have changed hands through history. It was part of the village of Clichy – which was only one of three communes – that made up “Plaine Saint-Denis.” You might be surprised to know that this plain was actually mentioned in the writings of Julius Caesar, who noted that the Gauls would hold assemblies here! And, the fair itself would later be named after the Roman word “indicere,” which means to indicate or convene.
Rue du Landy has a special place in the heart of Clichy, a place with a rich history and culture. It is part of the region of Île-de-France, a region home to a city as unique and wonderful as Paris.