Rue de l’Alouette

“A lark’s song,” whispered a passerby, “that’s how Rue de l’Alouette got its name.” We stand before Rue de l’Alouette, a seemingly ordinary street in the 13th arrondissement of Paris. But its name, evoking the image of a small bird singing in a field, hints at a richer past. Rue de l’Alouette was once part of a much larger area known as the Champ de l’Alouette, or “Lark’s Field”. This vast field stretched across what is now the Croulebarbe district. Imagine, in the 18th century, this bustling area as open land. The lark’s melody filled the air, a stark contrast to the city’s noise. The street itself took shape in the 17th century, evolving from a simple path within this expansive field. Its name went through several transformations, from Rue Payen, after the adjacent Clos Payen, to Rue de la Barrière, and even Rue Saint-Louis for a brief period in 1802. It was also once known as Rue du Petit-Champ-de-l’Alouette before finally settling on Rue de l’Alouette in 1867. The area wasn’t always fields and birdsong. Rue de l’Alouette held a portion of the Filles-Anglaises convent. This convent, whose remaining vestiges can be found on Rue des Tanneries, added a touch of serenity to the area. The convent’s presence hints at a time when religious life played a more prominent role in the daily lives of Parisians. Victor Hugo himself mentioned the Champ de l’Alouette in Les Misérables. He described it as a peaceful oasis within the city, a place where even the revolutionary Ruysdaël might be tempted to rest. This literary reference further solidifies the area’s image as a tranquil escape from the city’s hustle and bustle. The very name, Rue de l’Alouette, transports us back to a simpler time. It reminds us of the open fields and the sounds of nature that once characterized this now urban landscape.