Named after a valley, Rue de Fécamp holds more than meets the eye. The Rue de Fécamp is located in the 12th arrondissement. It sits specifically in the Picpus district. But how did this street get its unique name?
Let’s rewind to a time when Paris was a different landscape. The valley of Fécamp was formed by the ru de Montreuil. This stream flowed into the Seine River. The abbey of the Trinity of Fécamp owned land here. They even had a building on Rue Hautefeuille. The Rue de Fécamp’s name is derived from this valley.
The valley of Fécamp was once a well-defined area. We know this from Roussel’s 1731 plan. The valley started near the intersection of Rue du Rendez-Vous and Avenue de Saint-Mandé. It then descended along several streets. These included Avenue du Docteur-Arnold-Netter and the rues Marsoulan. Also rues Sibuet and de Toul. After the Croix Rouge, near the Michel-Bizot metro. It went to the cabaret de la Grande Pinte de Bercy. It followed what is now Rue de Fécamp.
The street’s history goes back centuries. In 1730, it appeared as a simple path on Roussel’s map. At that time, Bercy was its own commune. By 1811, a cadastral map of Bercy called it Rue de la Croix. It officially became part of Paris. A decree changed its name to Rue de Fécamp.
Today, the Rue de Fécamp stretches 446 meters. It starts at 20 Rue des Meuniers. The street ends at 250 Avenue Daumesnil. It is about 12 meters wide.
Keep an eye out for some special spots. At number 54, you will find the Jardin Ilan-Halimi. It was formerly known as the Jardin du 54, Rue de Fécamp. At number 43 stands a unique housing complex. It is known as Les Cases. The designer Christian Louboutin spent his childhood here. It was his family’s apartment.
The memory of the valley lives on in street names. Besides Rue de Fécamp, there’s also Impasse de la Vallée-de-Fécamp. The Rue de Fécamp offers a glimpse into Paris’s past. It connects us to the city’s geographical roots.