Ever heard of a street so modest many locals don’t even know it exists? That’s the Impasse du Cadran. We are now standing at the entrance of the Impasse du Cadran. It is a hidden passage in Paris’s 18th arrondissement. Specifically, it’s tucked away in the Clignancourt neighborhood.
The Impasse du Cadran is a short and narrow dead-end street. It stretches only 47 meters in length and is a mere 2 meters wide. Its name comes from a former sundial. This sundial once graced the wall at the end of the street. In the early 19th century, the street was once called Impasse Danger. A property owner named Danger lived here.
Before Montmartre joined Paris, the Impasse du Cadran consisted of simple houses. There were also storage areas here. It’s hard to believe this quiet street was once a hotbed of revolutionary activity.
Several revolutionary clubs held meetings here in the early 19th century. The Club de la Vengeance even planned its revolutionary program here. This was during the Second Empire. In 1871, the National Guard’s Central Committee met here. They decided to move cannons from Place Wagram and Neuilly to the Butte. That same year, a corps of volunteer soldiers called the Lascars de Montmartre were recruited here.
Imagine a grand ballroom called the Folies Robert once stood near the Impasse du Cadran. It was a large plaster and wood structure. The interior mimicked a Moorish palace. Gilles Robert ran the place and showcased new dances. Dancers like Elisa Belles Jambes and Bertha le Zouzou entertained crowds. Journalists and writers frequented this somewhat disreputable venue. On Sundays, families visited. They crossed the border into Montmartre.
Olivier Emart led the orchestra at the Folies Robert. Later, he became famous under a different name. He directed the orchestra at the Bal Mabille using the anagram Olivier Métra. Métra composed popular waltzes and ballets. He wrote for the Folies Bergères and the Opéra. The Bal des Folies Robert eventually closed in 1870.
The building became a dirigible factory for a time. Later, in 1912, the Palais Rochechouart-Aubert cinema was built on the site. It was a huge Art Nouveau cinema. It could seat over 1600 people. Gaumont bought it later, but it declined. It became known for Kung Fu films and closed in 1969. The cinema was replaced by a commercial complex. Today, a Boulanger store stands there.
On one side of the Impasse du Cadran, there’s a beautiful building. It houses a Barbèsian fashion store called La Rose d’Orient. A building at number 8 was demolished. This made room for the store, shortening the Impasse du Cadran. At the end of the street, there is a wedding shop.
The Impasse du Cadran, once a hub of revolution and entertainment, is now a quiet reminder of Montmartre’s vibrant past. It is a small piece of Parisian history hidden in plain sight.