Rue de la Barrière Blanche

You might wonder what the name Rue de la Barrière Blanche means. It’s a short street, just 200 meters long, located in the 18th arrondissement of Paris. Its name evokes a time when the city had walls and gates. It’s also a reminder of the old plaster quarries that once dotted the hillside of Montmartre. The quarries, which were important in the city’s history, provided a unique source of income for locals. Think of all those plaster casts and sculptures that were created from the white gypsum extracted from these very quarries. Rue de la Barrière Blanche was once a part of Rue Étex and was known as “CB/18.” This name was given to new roads created during the renovation of the neighborhood. It wasn’t until 2001 that the street got its present name. The name “Barrière Blanche” itself refers to a gate in the Wall of the Farmers-General, which stood at what is now place Blanche. The gate was named after the white gypsum quarries in the area. The street is a reminder of the city’s evolution and the significant role quarries played in its development. While walking on this street, you can practically imagine the donkeys laden with plaster, slowly winding their way down the steep slopes. And now you know, the name Rue de la Barrière Blanche isn’t just a street name, it’s a doorway to the past.