“Willow lined way” that’s what Allée des Saules means. It is a fitting name. We stand on a street steeped in history. This is the Rue des Saules in Montmartre. It is a place where artists once gathered. Imagine this street lined with willow trees. That gave the street its name.
Rue des Saules begins on Butte Montmartre. It starts at 20 Rue Norvins and 18 Rue Saint-Rustique. The street ends at 135 Rue Marcadet. It runs along the Montmartre vineyard and Saint-Vincent Cemetery. This street connects Clignancourt and Grandes-Carrières. The road includes sections of Montmartre stairs.
This street existed as early as 1672. It appears on Jouvin de Rochefort’s map. In 1843 the section between Rue Saint-Rustique and Saint-Vincent was named Rue des Fontaines. The part between Rue Norvins and Saint-Vincent was part of Montmartre. It became Rue de la Saussaye. The street received its current name in 1867.
Many painters frequented the street. This happened in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Their works in museums show a mix of popular and bohemian life. The last water carriers with shoulder straps worked here in 1900.
During World War II the nearby railway depot of La Chapelle was bombed. This happened on the night of April 20 to 21 1944. Allied aircraft targeted a German anti-aircraft gun. It was installed on Butte Montmartre. A witness said they saw flames towards Saint-Denis. Returning to Rue des Saules they saw the Plaine Saint-Denis burning.
An Israeli night shelter opened at 12 Rue des Saules in 1910. It welcomed Jewish immigrants from Poland and the Russian Empire. A raid of Jewish children occurred at 49 Rue des Saules during World War II. In 2010 a commemorative plaque was installed by an association. It was to remember the deported Jewish children.
At number 22 is the cabaret Au Lapin Agile. Built in 1795 it became a meeting place for artists. These artists included Max Jacob Pablo Picasso and Roland Dorgelès. It was once called the Cabaret des Assassins. The Funambule Montmartre theater is at number 53.
Paul Cézanne immortalized Rue des Saules. Vincent van Gogh and Maurice Utrillo also painted it.
In the film “Le Marginal” the main character lives on Rue des Saules. The street was also a filming location for the short film “Déjà vu”.
Rue des Saules is more than just a street. It is a canvas of history. It is a testament to art and resilience. It is a place where stories echo through time.