Just imagine it – you’re in the heart of the 10th arrondissement of Paris, the air thick with the scent of pastries and the rhythmic hum of the city. You’re standing at the end of a narrow lane, a small alley called the Cité Hauteville, a place where the history of this vibrant city comes alive.
The Cité Hauteville once bore a different name – Rue Ferdinand-Bal – in honor of the architect who shaped this very street. It was a moment of recognition for the man who gave life to the buildings around you. But the street was destined for another name. The reason? A man named Jean-Baptiste de La Michodière, Comte d’Hauteville, a prominent personality in 18th century Paris. This street, positioned near the eponymous Rue d’Hauteville, was deemed worthy to carry his name as a tribute to his service as Prévêt des marchands, or the chief magistrate of the merchants, in Paris from 1772 to 1777.
Today, as you see the Cité Hauteville, this humble lane, you can imagine its grandeur from a past life. You may not see the ostentatious mansions of the past, instead, you see modern Parisian houses, some with stories of their own. What you do see is a reminder of a time when this street was a testament to the city’s power and influence.
So, as you explore this narrow alley, just step back in time and imagine life in Paris during that era. Let the Cité Hauteville transport you to the past, reminding you of the men and women who once walked these streets, and who left their mark on the city, and on the heart of this narrow lane.