Doesn’t the name Allée Molière conjure images of the great French playwright himself? But Molière never lived here. The Allée Molière is named in his honor.
Let’s step back in time. Imagine Paris in the late 18th century. Jean-François Boursault-Malherbe was a playwright himself. He bought a passage then called Passage des Nourrices. Boursault-Malherbe transformed the buildings into a theatre. In 1791, he opened it with Molière’s “Le Misanthrope”. The theatre and passage found their new name. It became Passage Molière.
The Passage Molière has seen much history. During the Revolution, it was briefly named Passage des Sans-Culottes. This reflected the radical spirit of the time. Later, it reverted to Passage Molière.
The theatre faced many challenges. It eventually fell into private hands. In the 1970s, the City of Paris acquired it. The building was designated a Historical Monument in 1974.
Today, the Passage Molière is a charming place. It’s a reminder of Paris’s rich past. The Maison de la Poésie now occupies the former theatre. It is a literary hub. You can discover literature and poetry in new ways here.
The Passage Molière has been renovated. The surrounding apartments have been upgraded. Shops now showcase crafts, writing and local food. One shop specializes in poetry books. Another sells handcrafted writing supplies. You will also find unique Japanese calligraphy.
The Allée Molière is a step back in time. It’s a quiet escape from the bustling city. Take a stroll. Imagine the playwrights and poets who have walked here before. It is a place where the spirit of Molière lives on.