A small stone building a triangular roof. This is the Regard des Messiers. It’s more than just a building though. It’s a portal to history. A silent witness to Paris’s past.
The Regard des Messiers is a water access point. It’s part of the Belleville water system. Imagine the workers who built this. They toiled in the earth. They channeled water from the hills.
This unassuming structure has a story. It was rebuilt in 1811. The Comte Frochot the prefect of the Seine department oversaw the work. The inscription is said to be on the structure. It reads “REGARD des MESSIERS was rebuilt in November 1811”.
The name Messiers refers to the guards. They watched over the vineyards on Belleville’s slopes. Before the city expanded these were rural hills. The Messiers protected the harvest. They were essential to the community.
The Regard des Messiers is a little house. It has no windows. It is rectangular with a small gable. A flat stone roof protects it from the rain. It sits in a small sloping garden. You can find it at 17 rue des Cascades in the 20th arrondissement.
It was initially classified as a historical monument. This classification was later annulled after the Belleville waters were classified. The Regard des Messiers however remains a fascinating piece of Paris’s infrastructure. It is a reminder of the city’s evolution. It is a testament to the ingenuity of its builders.
So next time you walk past this unassuming structure remember its story. It’s a link to the past. It is a reminder of simpler times. It is a piece of Paris’s rich history. The Regard des Messiers. A small building with a big story.