Remember the date September 4th 1870? The Contre-allée du Quatre Septembre marks a pivotal moment in French history. It’s more than just a street name. It represents the day the Third Republic was proclaimed.
Let’s delve into the story of Contre-allée du Quatre Septembre. On that day in 1870, a group in Paris declared a new Republic. This happened after Napoleon III was captured by the Prussians at Sedan. The proclamation ended France’s Second Empire. However, constitutional laws weren’t voted on until 1875. The date September 4th remains primarily symbolic.
Controversy surrounds this date. The Third Republic ended in failure 70 years later in 1940. France was once again invaded by a German army. Today, France operates under its Fifth Republic. No one celebrates the proclamation date of this one, October 4th 1958. The Third Republic started with the overthrowing of the Commune in Paris in 1871. Around 20000 people were killed in Paris by government forces. Some believe the country shouldn’t celebrate a date linked to such violent repression.
Regardless, Contre-allée du Quatre Septembre remains on Paris street maps. It is unlikely to disappear anytime soon. Especially since it is also the name of a city-center Metro station.
The street Rue du Quatre-Septembre is located in the 2nd arrondissement of Paris. It stretches 520 meters. It begins at Rue des Filles-Saint-Thomas and Rue Vivienne. It ends at Place de l’Opéra.
The street’s opening was decreed by Napoleon III. The work was carried out in 1868. Initially, it was called Rue Réaumur Prolongée. It was renamed Rue du Dix-Décembre. This celebrated the election of Prince Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte.
After the capture of the Emperor and the proclamation of the Republic, it was renamed Rue du Quatre-Septembre. This was by order of the Mayor of Paris, Étienne Arago. Briefly, it was named Rue du Dix-Huit-Mars. It was to celebrate the beginning of the Commune. After the fall of the Commune, it was Rue sans-nom. Later, it received its current name.
Look around at the buildings. At numbers 16-18 is Le Centorial. This was the former headquarters of Crédit Lyonnais. It was built between 1875 and 1913. Several architects contributed to this building. William Bouwens van der Boijen was the first architect. Victor Laloux created the façade. The façades, roofs, grand staircase, and halls are protected. In 1996, a fire damaged the building. The damage was estimated at hundreds of millions of francs. A criminal origin was suspected.
Right opposite the metro station stands the Centorial. It exemplifies Haussmann-era architecture. In 1887, its opening impressed clients and investors. Eiffel, of Eiffel Tower fame, made the metal structures. Henri Germain founded the Crédit Lyonnais bank in 1863. It was the first to offer savings accounts with interest. By 1900, it was the world’s biggest bank.
The building has seen its share of turmoil. During World War I, a German bomb damaged it. Scandals plagued the bank’s history. In 1976, the chairman was shot on its steps. In 1996, a major fire engulfed the building. It burned for 12 hours. It was the biggest fire in Paris in 25 years. In 2005, it was renamed LCL. This was to distance itself from its troubled past.
So, as you stroll along Contre-allée du Quatre Septembre remember its layers of history. From imperial decrees to revolutionary proclamations. From banking empires to devastating fires. This street tells a story of Paris. It is a story of France itself.