“A Parisian street named after a town. How intriguing is that?” I began. Rue de Dreux in the 17th arrondissement of Paris. A short street. Only 11 meters long. Yet its name whispers tales of history.
This unassuming Parisian lane is named for Dreux. A town in Eure-et-Loir. There lies the final resting place of the Orléans family. Their tombs are in the Royal Chapel of Dreux. The street’s namesake. The chapel’s construction began in 1816. A project of the Duchess of Orléans. She wanted a place for her family.
Originally. This street was part of the Rue de Chartres. It extended into Neuilly-sur-Seine. A decree annexed that area to Paris. Rue de Dreux received its name later by an order in 1930.
The construction of Paris’s périphérique drastically altered the area. Much of the old Rue de Chartres disappeared. Rue de Dreux. A small remnant. A vestige of a larger past. A small street. A big history.
The proximity to the Porte Maillot. A busy area today. Imagine this street back then. Before the périphérique. Before the cars and traffic. A quieter time. A different Paris. It began at 26 Rue Gustave-Charpentier. It merged with Rue de Chartres in Neuilly-sur-Seine.
Rue de Dreux. A short street. A lasting link to the Orléans family. To the Royal Chapel in Dreux. A reminder that even small places have grand stories to tell. Walk this street. Reflect on the past. Discover the hidden narratives of Paris.