Hidden amidst Paris’ charming streets lies Rue du Roussillon. Its name evokes a distant land a vibrant region in southern France. This unassuming Parisian street holds a connection to a rich history. A history stretching back centuries.
Rue du Roussillon’s namesake Roussillon is a historical area. It encompasses the Pyrenees-Orientales department. It was once its own province. Its main city has always been Perpignan. The area’s story is one of conquest and cultural exchange. It reflects the area’s captivating history.
Ruscino near Perpignan was settled long ago. Inhabitants showed Iberian ties. This lasted from the 7th century BC to the late 3rd century BC. Then Gallic people took control. Roman conquest followed in the 2nd century BC. Visigoths Arabs and finally Carolingian France all ruled Roussillon.
The final split came in 865. Septimania to the north and the Spanish March to the south separated. Roussillon joined the Spanish March. Feudalism led to countships. These were held by relatives of the counts of Barcelona. The Barcelona dynasty got direct rights in 1172. Roussillon became part of Aragon.
Monasticism flourished from the 10th century. This left numerous Romanesque architectural remains. The house of Barcelona-Aragon gave privileges to towns. Trade boomed with Catalonia. In the 13th century Roussillon became part of the kingdom of Majorca. James I of Aragon created this amalgamation. Aragon held Roussillon until the 1640s. France occupied Spain’s lands during the Thirty Years’ War. Perpignan fell in 1642. Spain ceded the province to France in 1659 with the Treaty of the Pyrenees.
Rue du Roussillon in Paris silently reflects this legacy. It whispers tales of a far-off land. A land of history culture and influence. As you walk along this unassuming street remember the rich story it carries. A story linked to a faraway province. A province now part of France. A province that influenced the world.