Hidden beneath the bustling Parisian streets lies Rue Amelot a captivating lane steeped in history. Its name Rue Amelot honors Antoine-Jean Amelot de Chaillou Louis XVI’s Secretary of State for the Department of Paris. This unassuming street holds secrets within its aged stones.
Rue Amelot wasn’t always a single thoroughfare. It’s a merger of three older streets Rue Saint-Pierre-Popincourt Rue des Fossés-du-Temple and a southern section previously called Rue Amelot. These streets were pieced together in 1868. This act created a longer continuous street.
The original Rue Saint-Pierre-Popincourt followed the old chemin de la Contrescarpe. This path ran alongside the Charles V city walls. The name Saint-Pierre-Popincourt came from a statue of Saint Peter at one end. The street itself was widened in 1780 to its current width of 11.69 meters. This width was later reaffirmed in 1802 and 1848.
Rue des Fossés-du-Temple gets its name from its location above the old Temple’s moats. A sewer once ran through these moats. The sewer was covered in the 1780s. The king ordered the moats filled in 1777. This allowed buildings to be constructed on one side of the street. Mostly theaters lined the boulevard du Temple. The other side bordered the Marais du Faubourg du Temple. This area was developed into the Nouvelle Ville d’Angoulême beginning in 1780.
The southern section of Rue Amelot opened in 1779. It was built on the site of the old Saint-Antoine gate bastion. The construction of the canal Saint-Martin led to the removal of the part of Rue Amelot that opened onto the Place de la Bastille.
The filling of the moats created the unique topography of Rue Amelot today. It sits lower than the parallel boulevards. Many of the cross streets are either sloping down or end in pedestrian staircases. This difference in elevation is especially noticeable where Rue Amelot meets Boulevard Voltaire.
Rue Amelot boasts intriguing architecture. There are narrow passages between buildings. One such passage is the very tight entrance to number 151 bis. The street is also home to notable buildings such as the Cirque d’Hiver. This is reputedly the oldest surviving purpose-built circus in the world. It’s a true Parisian landmark. A hidden gem nearby is the Clown-Bar its interior classified as a historic monument.
Rue Amelot’s story is a tapestry woven from Parisian history. It is a blend of old and new. A walk down Rue Amelot is a journey through time. It is a journey filled with remarkable history. It is a testament to the enduring spirit of Paris.