Allée des Hautes Feuilles

“Lost in time?” a voice echoed down Allée des Hautes Feuilles. The rustling leaves seemed to whisper secrets of centuries past. Allée des Hautes Feuilles in Noisy-le-Grand doesn’t readily reveal its tales. Our journey requires us to borrow stories from its Parisian namesake, Rue Hautefeuille. Imagine stepping back to 1900. The clatter of horse-drawn carriages fills the air along Rue Hautefeuille. The Neurdein brothers, Etienne and Antonin, capture this scene, their cameras preserving a moment in time. They were renowned for their photographs of Paris, particularly their work on the Universal Expositions. Their images of Rue Hautefeuille, now held by the Roger-Viollet Agency, offer us a glimpse into its past. Rue Hautefeuille, a street steeped in history, stretches from Place Saint-André-des-Arts to Rue de l’École-de-Médecine. Its name, “High Leaf,” conjures images of a leafy past, perhaps linked to the monks of the Cordeliers convent who once played jeu de paume beneath its trees. Another theory connects the name to Roman ruins unearthed in 1358. These ruins, called “Altum Folium,” emerged during the digging of Charles V’s city walls. The street’s history predates even these events. By 1252, the section between Rue Saint-Séverin and Rue Serpente was known as “Rue de la Barre”. It was a path truncated first by Philippe Auguste’s wall, then by the construction of the Cordeliers convent. This vibrant street housed figures of historical significance. At number 4 lived François de La Mothe Le Vayer, tutor to a young Louis XIV. At number 17, a plaque marks the birthplace of the poet Charles Baudelaire. The Hôtel des Abbés de Fécamp, at number 5, stands as a testament to the street’s architectural heritage. Its 16th-century façade and delicate turret whisper stories of ecclesiastic power. Number 8 housed the nascent Éditions du Seuil, one of France’s most important publishing houses. The spirit of literature and learning permeated this area, with bookstores and publishing houses nestled amongst its buildings. Even in the 19th century, Rue Hautefeuille pulsed with life. The Brasserie Andler, a mid-street hub, drew students, artists, and republican figures like Gambetta, Courbet, and Daumier. Today, while we stand on Allée des Hautes Feuilles in Noisy-le-Grand, the echoes of Rue Hautefeuille resonate. We borrow its history, its stories, and its spirit to enrich our understanding of this quiet allée. The rustling leaves here, too, seem to whisper secrets, connecting us to a past that continues to shape our present.