Nestled within the vibrant tapestry of Paris, Rue Baudet whispers tales of a forgotten gateway. Rue Baudet isn’t its original name. It was once known as Rue de la Porte Baudet, meaning “Street of the Baudet Gate”. This gate wasn’t the famous Porte Saint-Denis. It was part of Paris’s first medieval wall, near Place Baudoyer. Imagine strolling along Rue Baudet in 1450. You’d find yourself in Paris’s second district, on a street then called rue de Porte-Baudet. The “Dit des rues de Paris,” a medieval poem describing Parisian streets, mentions it as “grant rue de la Porte Baudeer.” It stretched from Rue Vieille Tixeranderie to the city wall. Over time, Rue de la Porte Baudet transformed. It became Rue de l’Aigle, then Rue François Miron, and finally part of the western section of Rue Saint-Antoine. While the original Rue Baudet and its gate are gone, its name echoes in the modern Rue Baudet in Saint-Denis. This reminds us of the layers of history beneath Paris’s streets.
Église Notre-Dame de l’Air
Beneath what appears to be a simple stone and wood structure lies a history interwoven with faith aviation and community.