“Who was Léon?” a curious tourist asks, gazing at the street sign of Rue Léon. This street in the 18th arrondissement has a story. It is a story not of grand monuments but of everyday Parisian life. Rue Léon is a public road in Paris. It winds through the Goutte-d’Or district from north to south.
The street’s story begins in the commune of La Chapelle. It stretched between Rue Cavé and Rue d’Oran. Originally, it extended south. This extension was Passage Fauvet. Later, it was renamed Passage Léon. Today, Square Léon occupies that space.
In 1859, La Chapelle became part of Paris. By 1863, Rue Léon was officially recognized as a Parisian street. The street grew again in 1906. It expanded to Rue Marcadet. This expansion incorporated Cité Marcadet. You might notice how the street’s axis changes at Rue d’Oran. This is because of the absorption of Cité Marcadet.
The Cité Marcadet once stretched from Rue Marcadet. It ended as a dead end near what is now number 43 Rue Léon. That address was formerly number 18 Cité Marcadet. Numbers 51, 53, 55, and 57 were once numbers 2, 4, 6, and 8 of Cité Marcadet. In 1925, Rue Léon reached its current length. It extended to Rue Ordener.
Rue Léon serves as a cultural hub. This vibrant street is home to the Théâtre Lavoir Moderne Parisien. It also hosts the Olympic Café. Each summer, the street comes alive. The Rue Léon festival celebrates African cultures. Street feasts fill the air with delicious aromas.
Number 35 Rue Léon holds a special place in history. Here stands the Lavoir Moderne Parisien. Originally, it was a real laundry. Émile Zola described it in L’Assommoir. He wrote of a vast hall with a flat ceiling and exposed beams. It had cast-iron pillars and large clear windows. It operated from 1870 to 1953. After fifteen years of abandonment, it became a theater. In 2020, the City of Paris acquired it. The goal is to restore it.
To capture the area’s spirit, a local web-tv exists. Rueleon.tv creates reports on the neighborhood’s cultural life. Also, the Institut des Cultures d’Islam has a center. It is located at 19-23 Rue Léon. It offers exhibitions and debates.
Rue Léon is named after a landowner. It is a simple tribute. Yet, the street itself is a testament to the area’s evolution. From a commune road to a cultural heart, Rue Léon embodies the spirit of the 18th arrondissement. So, as you walk along Rue Léon, remember its past. Remember the laundry, the festivals, and the people who shaped it.