Wander with me down Rue de la Clef des Champs. This street is one of Lille’s oldest arteries. It has seen centuries of change.
Rue de la Clef des Champs existed as early as 1066. That’s almost a thousand years of history beneath our feet. Imagine the stories these cobblestones could tell.
Like many streets in Lille, its name comes from a business. The “Hôtel de la Clef” once stood here. It lent its name to this now famous street.
After the French Revolution in 1789 the street was renamed Rue Marat in 1793. But the name didn’t stick. It soon reverted to its original name Rue de la Clef des Champs.
Once Rue de la Clef des Champs had a less than stellar reputation. It was not a place where people of standing liked to be seen. Today it is a favorite of locals. People come here to stroll and shop. Small fashion boutiques have sprung up in recent years.
Rue de la Clef des Champs connects Boulevard Carnot to Place des Patiniers. The Place des Patiniers also leads to Rue des Chats-Bossus.
Look closely at the street name plaque. You will notice a delicate mosaic. An artist from Orléans, MifaMosa, created it in the shape of a key. It’s a small detail but it adds charm to Rue de la Clef des Champs.
This street is more than just shops and paving stones. Rue de la Clef des Champs is a piece of Lille’s soul. It links the past with the present. It’s a place where history and modern life meet.
The street is mentioned in the cartulary of the Middle Ages. It is not mentioned in the Charte de dotation de la collégiale Saint-Pierre of 1066. It may have been outside the original town limits. This area included Rue des Chats-Bossus and the old Saint-Étienne church.
In 1820 before Boulevard Carnot was built Rue de la Clef des Champs joined with Rue des Oyers and Rue des Suaires at Place des Guingants.
The famous company Six-Six once occupied a building here. It later became the Immeuble Proue. Rue de la Clef des Champs has always been a place of commerce and change.
Strolling down Rue de la Clef des Champs you’re walking through time. You are experiencing Lille’s vibrant present. Take a moment to appreciate the layers of history around you.