Did you know that Rue des Dames Augustines links two different worlds? This Parisian street has the interesting distinction of connecting a working-class area to a bourgeois area. The 17th arrondissement is two-thirds rich and one-third working class. Rue des Dames Augustines is in the Batignolles quarter. The street begins at number 25 Avenue de Clichy. It ends at number 12 Rue de Levis.
The street’s name comes from its history. Rue des Dames Augustines led to the Abbey of the Ladies of Montmartre. This abbey existed in the 17th century. At that time, Rue des Dames Augustines was a path. It ran from the Monceau plain to the abbey.
Rue des Dames Augustines became part of Clichy after the French Revolution. Later, it belonged to Batignolles after its creation in 1830. In 1860, Batignolles joined Paris. Three years later in 1863 Rue des Dames Augustines officially became a Parisian street.
The street has seen its share of dramatic events. On March 21, 1915, a bomb fell on Rue des Dames Augustines. It was dropped from a zeppelin. A train accident occurred in the Batignolles tunnel in 1921. The tunnel was destroyed between 1923 and 1926. Buildings at numbers 68 to 74 and number 79 were torn down. A bridge was built to cross the railway trench.
Today, Rue des Dames Augustines offers a slice of Parisian life. You can find cafes and shops along the street. There are also laundromats and restaurants.
At number 23 Rue des Dames Augustines, discover the bistrot Marcelle & Marcel. Numbers 32 and 34 have an artistic past. The painter Marcellin Desboutin had his first Paris studio here. He shared it with Eugène Cauchois, a flower painter. The anarchist group La Panthère des Batignolles met here in the 1880s.
Once, the cinema Le Météore stood at number 44 Rue des Dames Augustines. It operated from 1938 to 1957. Later, it became the Studio des Dames. Many famous artists recorded here. Barbara, Sylvie Vartan and Johnny Hallyday all used this studio. Georges Brassens, Boby Lapointe and Renaud also recorded there.
The generating plant of the Société électrique du secteur de la place Clichy was at number 53. Paul Friesé built it in 1888. It supplied electricity to the Place de Clichy area. This area had many theaters and restaurants. The building was classified as a historical monument in 1992.
So, as you walk along Rue des Dames Augustines, remember its diverse past. It is a street of contrasts. Rue des Dames Augustines links different social classes. This street has history, art, and everyday Parisian life.