Five hundred and one meters long Avenue des Oiseaux in Paris. A seemingly unremarkable street. Yet it holds a secret history. A history stretching back to 1618. This is Avenue des Oiseaux.
Initially known as Petite rue Charlot. It later morphed into Ruelle du Marché. Then Cul-de-sac de Beauce. Finally settling on its current name. Why the change? Because of a shop. A shop with a sign. A sign that read “Birds”.
The street was carved out of land. Land belonging to Claude Charlot a councillor of state. The nearby Marché des Enfants-Rouges the oldest covered market in Paris. Its owners insisted on conditions. No horses no carts no carriages. Only birds. A servitude for the market.
In 1618 this small Parisian street was created. A decision was made by the Bureau des Finances. Sieur Geoffroy d’Assy inherited the right to use and enjoy the street. Much like Claude Charlot before him. He was even permitted to close it off with a gate. At the intersection with Rue de Beauce.
The street became public. A ministerial decision in 1798. It specified a width. Initially 6 meters. Later expanded to 10 meters. It had a bustling life. Butcher shops thrived in the 18th century. They served the city and the market.
Madeleine de Scudéry a prominent woman of letters. She lived on the corner of Rue de Beauce. A literary legend resided here on Avenue des Oiseaux. A quiet street with a powerful past.
Today the street lives on. It remembers its past. Its many names and uses. A quiet Parisian street. It stands as a testament to the city’s evolution. From humble beginnings to its current quiet charm. Avenue des Oiseaux a street with a story.