Deep beneath our feet lies a hidden world of water. Here at Regard des Petites Rigoles, we uncover a fragment of that world. This unassuming structure is more than just a building. It’s a window into Paris’s historical water system.
The Regard des Petites Rigoles is a historic structure. It allows access to an underground canal. This canal is in Paris’s 20th arrondissement. The Regard dates back to the 17th century. Imagine engineers from centuries ago. They designed this system to provide fresh water to the city.
Let’s step back to the early 1630s. The Regard des Petites Rigoles was constructed then. For decades, it was forgotten. It lay hidden beneath a metal workshop’s floor. In 1995, it was rediscovered. The structure was cleared and restored. It became visible in a public garden. The garden replaced the old factory.
Inside the Regard des Petites Rigoles is a stone basin. The basin is from Arcueil and has three compartments. The first compartment allowed settling. Another served a concession for the Roquette area. The third was for water heading to the city aqueduct.
The building was listed as a historical monument in 1929. The listing was updated when the rest of Belleville’s water system was classified in 2006. Initially, the structure was built against a natural slope. Later, it was buried under the Kemmler factory. The factory was a metal turning workshop. To see it, people had to remove a sewer-like cover. They then descended via a ladder.
The factory closed in 2005. Local associations fought to merge the land. They wanted to unite it with a nearby wasteland to create a garden. The idea to uncover the Regard des Petites Rigoles emerged. Paris bought the land. They developed the Jardin des Petites-Rigoles. Excavation work revealed the Regard in 2018.
Today, the Regard des Petites Rigoles feeds the Mussardes fountain. You can find this fountain at 51 Rue des Cascades. The Association Sources du Nord studies and preserves it.
The Jardin des Petites Rigoles features three levels. The top level is a belvedere. It includes mascarons. These once adorned the Pont-Neuf. Lavender, broom, and clematis grow there. The central level highlights the historic site. It offers a meeting space. An open-air amphitheater descends to the Regard des Petites Rigoles. This Regard is one of 40 Parisian structures. They provided access to a 15th-century underground aqueduct. It drained springs from Belleville. It supplied the population with drinking water.
The water from the Regard des Petites Rigoles flows to Rue des Cascades. It passes through a mascaron. The lowest level is a cool haven. A dense thicket features field maples and hornbeams. Access is restricted. This protects the biodiversity.
So, as you stand here, remember the history beneath your feet. The Regard des Petites Rigoles is a reminder of Parisian ingenuity. It shows the city’s dedication to providing fresh water. It is more than just a structure. It’s a living piece of history.