Ever wondered why a Parisian street is called Rue des Paradis? The name itself hints at a story. A story of contrasts. A story of a street bordering the former Rue d’Enfer now Rue Bleue. Rue des Paradis in the 10th arrondissement. This isn’t just any street. It’s a 528-meter-long pathway. It stretches from the rue du Faubourg-Saint-Denis to the rue du Faubourg-Poissonnière. It’s a historical tapestry woven with threads of industry. Threads of art. Threads of even fear.
Rue des Paradis once formed part of a larger road. This road connected the Saint-Lazare hospital to the village of Le Roule. In 1643 it was called rue Saint-Lazare. It later closed off the Saint-Lazare enclosure to the south. To the north it bordered the grounds of the Filles-Dieu convent. This convent’s land was known as Les Paradis hence the street’s name. From 1659 the street was called rue de Paradis-Poissonnière. This distinguished it from another rue de Paradis located in Le Marais.
Imagine the scene in 1710. Les Paradis a vegetable garden. This garden belonged to the Filles-Dieu nuns. In 1740 the street was still a road. It ran alongside the Saint-Lazare enclosure. It wasn’t until May 9 1881 that it received its definitive name Rue de Paradis.
But Rue des Paradis wasn’t just a quiet convent path. Its proximity to the Gare de l’Est transformed it. It became a hub. A hub for crystal porcelain and faience. These goods arrived from Lorraine. Many shops opened along the street. Number 18 is particularly noteworthy. This building housed the faience factory of Hippolyte Boulenger. Built in 1889 it’s a stunning example of Art Deco architecture. Its ceramic facade is a unique testament to the area’s industrial past. The building even became the Musée de l’Affiche and then the Musée de la Publicité.
Another significant address is number 30 30 bis or 32. This was the site of a crystal warehouse. Baccarat and the Compagnie des Cristalleries de Saint-Louis had depots here. Baccarat even maintained a bronze workshop. By 1899 Baccarat employed 246 people at this location. The building later became the Baccarat Museum. It even housed the Pinacothèque de Paris for a time. A historical marker indicates that a stagecoach relay once stood here. This relay served diligences from eastern France.
And then there’s number 44. This housed the prestigious François Pinet shoe company. Founded in 1855 it produced fine sewn shoes for women girls and children. The mosaic inscription above the door still reads CHAUSSURES F PINET CHAUSSURES. The current building is a result of an 1885-1886 reconstruction. Today it houses the Libertino Italian restaurant.
Rue des Paradis. More than just a street name. It’s a Parisian story of contrasts. From convent gardens to bustling industry. From quiet pathways to a stage for cinematic scenes. A street that whispers stories of the past. A street that still holds secrets. A street that still intrigues.