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Passage du Pont aux Biches

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Was it named after deer or something else? We are standing at the entrance to the Passage du Pont aux Biches. This pedestrian walkway is in Paris’s 3rd arrondissement. It links the Rue Notre-Dame-de-Nazareth to the Rue Meslay.

The Passage du Pont aux Biches has a unique charm. Access from Rue Notre-Dame-de-Nazareth is straightforward. The entrance on Rue Meslay is under a building. Rue Meslay was once Rue du Rempart. It ran along the old city wall. The wall overlooked the city. This part of Rue Meslay was on the Butte Saint-Martin. It was a partially leveled hill.

The Passage du Pont aux Biches gets its name from a bridge. The bridge crossed a sewer. Also a sign with deer “biches” gave it its name. Originally, there was only a dead end here. It started from Rue Notre-Dame-de-Nazareth. It extended from a section of the current Rue Volta. Before 1851, Rue Volta was Rue du Pont-aux-Biches. It ran between Rue du Vertbois and Rue Notre-Dame-de-Nazareth. This dead end was once called Cul-de-sac de la Chiffonnerie.

The Pont aux Biches was a footbridge. It crossed the sewer along Rue Notre-Dame-de-Nazareth. North of here, the difference in elevation is noticeable. Rue Notre-Dame-de-Nazareth and Rue Meslay mark an old debris mound. Mills once stood on this mound. Before 1609, the Saint-Martin bastion was built here. It was part of Charles V’s city wall upgrades.

In 1634, the open sewer was covered. It was diverted north to where the passage is now. It ran through an underground gallery. This was under the bastion’s walkway. After the rampart was removed in 1670, it went under Boulevard Saint-Martin. The gallery extended into an open ditch. It emptied into the main sewer. This was at the corner of today’s Rue de Lancry and Rue du Château d’eau.

In 1881, the dead end became a public road. Extending it to Rue Meslay with stairs was declared for public benefit. The Passage du Pont aux Biches has seen many changes. From a dead end to a vital link, it tells a story of Paris’s evolution. Take a stroll through and feel the echoes of history.

Learning about Passage du Pont aux Biches in Paris is only the beginning of your adventure. Explory helps you go further with a powerful digital guide that transforms every walk into an experience. Using our intuitive city guide, you can easily connect stories with locations, creating your own city tour while enjoying Paris at your own rhythm. Explory’s goal is to make your trip unforgettable. Our guide combines storytelling with orientation, giving you the chance to uncover the rich layers of Paris. Thanks to the integrated audio guide, you can listen to fascinating narratives while exploring the streets. Beyond the well-known attractions, Explory highlights hidden gems and secret corners that make the city truly unique. With the city guide, you’ll gain insights and flexibility. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a regular traveler, the app offers exploration on your terms. Each curated city tour blends local culture, history, and atmosphere into one seamless experience. The emphasis on exploration ensures you won’t just see Paris, but actually connect with it. And because our content reveals hidden gems, you’ll always discover something new. Expand your journey by downloading the Explory App. Explore over 300 cities and more than 500,000 POIs and stories, all accessible from your phone. Whether you need a trusted guide, a flexible audio guide, or a structured city tour, Explory offers everything in one place. Start your adventure today and explore Paris like never before with Explory.

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