Did you know that the Chemin du Moulinet owes its name to a small mill? Yes, a mill once stood near the avenue d’Italie. Let’s explore the history of this Parisian passage.
The Passage du Moulinet is located in Paris’s 13th arrondissement. It links 45-49 rue du Moulinet and 154 rue de Tolbiac. The passage is relatively short. It measures only 85 meters in length and 10 meters in width.
This passage wasn’t always a passage. It began as a dead-end street. In 1875, the construction of rue de Tolbiac transformed it. The dead end became a throughway and gained a new purpose.
The name “Moulinet” comes from its proximity to rue du Moulinet. This street was named for a small mill. The mill stood at the corner of rue du Moulinet and avenue d’Italie.
Even during World War I, the Passage du Moulinet faced danger. German bombers struck on the night of June 1-2, 1918. A torpedo exploded at number 11 Passage du Moulinet. This event left its mark on the passage’s history.
Today, the Passage du Moulinet offers a quiet escape. It connects two busy streets. Imagine people hurrying through this passage long ago. They were on their way to the mill. Or they were simply passing through the neighborhood. Today, it serves as a reminder of simpler times. It is a small piece of history tucked away in the modern city.
As you walk through the Passage du Moulinet think about the lives that have crossed here. The passage is more than just a path. It is a connection to Paris’s past. The echoes of the mill are long gone. The Passage du Moulinet is a testament to time’s passage.