Might the unassuming Rue Delaitre whisper stories of Belleville’s past? This street in the 20th arrondissement might seem like any other Parisian passage. But it has a history rooted in the area’s development. Rue Delaitre is a public road in Paris’s 20th arrondissement. It begins at 47 Rue des Panoyaux. It ends at 42 Rue de Ménilmontant.
Rue Delaitre stretches for 120 meters. It is a modest 7 meters wide. The street’s story began before 1825. That year marks when it received its current name.
Its name comes from the landowner who owned the land. He allowed the street to be built on his property. Rue Delaitre was once part of the former commune of Belleville. It officially became part of the Parisian road system by decree.
Look to numbers 12 and 14. Here stood the final workshop of Guitares Jacobacci from 1982 to 1994. This place once echoed with the crafting of musical instruments.
Number 20 has its own story. It was the site of the first workers’ cooperative. It was called “L’Économie ouvrière”. It was founded in 1869 before La Bellevilloise. It was renamed L’Union ouvrière in 1872. This shows the street’s connection to Paris’s working-class history.
Today, the nearest metro station is Julien Lacroix. The metro lines 2, 3 and 11 can bring you here. Bus lines 20 and 96 also stop nearby.
So, as you walk along Rue Delaitre. Remember its humble origins and its connection to the community. It is a small piece of Paris. It reveals layers of history. From landowners to guitar makers, the street tells a unique Parisian story.