Wouldn’t you agree the name Ch\u00e2teau d’Eau sounds like something out of a fairy tale? It translates to “water tower”. But its history is more grounded than that. We are standing near the location of the Ch\u00e2teau d’Eau des Totems.
The story of the Ch\u00e2teau d’Eau begins in the 19th century. The Place de la R\u00e9publique was once called Place du Ch\u00e2teau d’Eau. A road branching off this place inherited the name. This was due to a large fountain that served as a water tower. Parisians could access water from it. The original fountain was the Girard Fountain.
In 1880, the fountains were integrated into the Place de la R\u00e9publique. Today, the Girard Fountain sits at Place F\u00e9lix \u00c9bou\u00e9. It is no longer in the Ch\u00e2teau d’Eau area.
The Ch\u00e2teau d’Eau area is known for many things. Rue du Faubourg-Poissonni\u00e8re is a foodie paradise. It offers various restaurants with fresh ingredients. Some recommended spots include L’Ancienne Maison Gradelle. It has a unique decor. Papelli offers delicious pizza. Nous Paradis offers healthy vegetarian options. Manicaretti serves gluten-free Italian cuisine.
Ch\u00e2teau d’Eau also boasts delicious Indian food. Passage Brady is famous for authentic Indian cuisine. Here, you will find Pakistani and Bangladeshi options. Pooja Namo and Yasmin are popular restaurants. Do not miss the Indian grocery store Velan.
The area is rich in culture with at least seven theaters. The Th\u00e9\u00e2tre Antoine is one of them. Also, you can visit the Th\u00e9\u00e2tre Libre le Com\u00e9dia. The Th\u00e9\u00e2tre du Gymnase is another. Le Splendid and the Th\u00e9\u00e2tre Renaissance et Eldorado are also nearby. The New Morning is a concert venue for jazz and alternative music.
The March\u00e9 Saint-Martin is a covered market in Ch\u00e2teau d’Eau. It opened in 1854. The market was built to replace the destroyed March\u00e9 Saint-Laurent. The original glass ceiling collapsed in 1879 due to snow. It was rebuilt in 1880, which is the structure we see today. Today, the market offers spices, beer, and smoked meats.
The Ch\u00e2teau d’Eau metro station opened on April 21, 1908. It was part of the initial stretch of Line 4. The station is located under the Boulevard de Strasbourg. It is at the level of the Rue du Ch\u00e2teau d’Eau. In 2019, the station saw 3,878,260 passengers.
The station has two entrances on Boulevard de Strasbourg. An exit is located on Rue du Ch\u00e2teau d’Eau. The platforms have been upgraded with platform screen doors.
Interestingly, on April Fool’s Day 2016, the station was renamed Ch\u00e2teau de sable. This translates to “Sand Castle”. It was part of an April Fool’s joke by the RATP.
So, next time you’re near the Ch\u00e2teau d’Eau des Totems, remember its rich history. From a water tower to a metro station, it has many stories to tell. It is a vibrant area filled with food, culture, and history. The Ch\u00e2teau d’Eau is a unique part of Paris.