Envision Paris in the 1800s. The Passage Saint-Maur stands before you. It is a hidden testament to Paris’s industrial past.
This private passage in the 11th arrondissement begins at 81 Rue Saint-Maur. It ends at 6 Passage Saint-Ambroise. The entrance on Rue Saint-Maur is subtle. It’s easy to miss behind a building’s doorway. There is no sign indicating the passage exists.
The Passage Saint-Maur is not just another pretty Parisian secret. It holds the city’s last wooden pavements. Paris streets were dirt until the 1860s. In 1881, Paris’s Prefect ordered wooden paving. This was inspired by London. Wood was quieter than stone.
The Passage Saint-Maur’s wooden blocks are rare survivors. They offer a glimpse into a bygone era. Imagine horse-drawn carriages clip-clopping along these wooden blocks. The city’s water trucks washed them daily until the 1950s. Stone paving replaced wood in the 1930s. Wood was less hygienic.
During the Great Flood of 1910, the wooden blocks floated away. They became temporary rafts in flooded streets. Today, you can see the preserved wooden paving. Find them under the archway of the Passage Saint-Maur.
The name Saint-Maur comes from the street it’s on. Rue Saint-Maur linked Saint-Maur Abbey to Saint-Denis Basilica. The passage is about 100 meters long and 4 meters wide. The nearest metro station is Rue Saint-Maur on line 3.
Look around at the timber-framed workshops. They hint at the area’s 19th-century industry. Mechanics and seamstresses once worked here. The Passage Saint-Maur offers a quiet escape. It is just steps away from the bustling Rue Saint-Maur. The turquoise doorway invites exploration. Step inside. Discover its historical treasures.