“Avenue de la Porte-de-Clignancourt” rings with history. This Parisian avenue in the 18th arrondissement has a story to tell. Today we will explore its past.
Avenue de la Porte-de-Clignancourt stretches 345 meters. It measures 42 meters wide. The avenue begins at 106 Boulevard Ney. It ends at Rue Jean-Henri-Fabre and Rue du Professeur-Gosset.
Its name comes from its location. The avenue sits partly on the old Porte de Clignancourt. This gate was part of the Thiers wall. It once led to the gate.
The Avenue de la Porte-de-Clignancourt was created in 1931. The section between Boulevard Ney and the fortifications’ limit was built between bastions 36 and 37 of the Thiers wall. The extension was once part of Avenue Michelet in Saint-Ouen. Paris annexed it in 1930.
To the south of Clignancourt is the Boulevard de Rochechouart. To the north are the Boulevards des Maréchaux. They separate it from Porte de Clignancourt. Rue des Poissonniers leads to the Goutte d’Or neighborhood to the east. Several axes delimit the neighborhood to the west. These include Rue Véron and Rue Lepic to the southwest. Rue de la Fontaine du But and Rue du Ruisseau are in the center. Rue Championnet and Rue Letort are to the northwest.
The Rue de Clignancourt, another nearby street, has its own rich history. It was once the main road of the old village of Clignancourt. Until the mid-19th century Clignancourt was connected to Paris by the Chaussée de Clignancourt. After the Farmers-General wall was built the chaussée began at the Rochechouart barrier.
The Rue de Clignancourt is quite long. It stretches 1325 meters. The street runs almost directly south to north. It starts at the southern border of the 18th arrondissement. It ends at Rue Championnet near the northern limit.
Many notable buildings mark the Rue de Clignancourt. At number 26 are the Grands Magasins Dufayel. Initially named Palais de la Nouveauté, they occupied a large quadrilateral since 1856. In 1892 the main entrance at 26 Rue de Clignancourt was monumentally enhanced. It featured a pediment by Jules Dalou and sculptures by Alexandre Falguière. A dome capped the entrance supporting a lighthouse that illuminated Paris.
Attracting customers the department store included a large theater and a winter garden. By 1912 the Grands Magasins Dufayel employed 15000 people. It claimed to be the most important establishment of its kind in the world. It closed in 1930. After World War II the BNP took over its premises installing its central services.
Numbers 42-54 on Rue de Clignancourt mark the site of the former Château Rouge. This small manor of brick and stone was built around 1780. In 1814 the Château Rouge served as Joseph Bonaparte’s command post. In 1844 the park was largely converted into building plots. The chateau and remaining park became a popular public dance hall.
Avenue de la Porte-de-Clignancourt and the surrounding streets offer a glimpse into Paris’s vibrant past. From its origins as part of the city’s fortifications to its bustling commercial life this area has witnessed many changes. As you wander through this historic area imagine the lives of those who walked these streets before you.