“Ville-Neuve,” meaning New Town. Does this name spark your curiosity about Rue de la Villeneuve? It should. This street in Paris’s 2nd arrondissement boasts a rich history.
Rue de la Villeneuve owes its name to the Ville-Neuve quarter. This area was built in 1630 on the Butte de Bonne-Nouvelle. The Butte de Bonne-Nouvelle itself has an interesting past.
Imagine this: between the 10th and 16th centuries, the butte was an accumulation of diverse waste. These waste heaps included mud and street refuse. It sat between Rue Poissonnière and Boulevard de Bonne-Nouvelle. Rue de Cléry bordered it to the southeast.
Rue de la Villeneuve is part of the Bonne-Nouvelle hill’s paths. These paths first opened in 1540 but were razed in 1593. Then, plots were allocated again from 1623. To encourage settlement, merchants and artisans received tax exemptions. This mirrored the Enclos du Temple.
Initially, Rue de la Villeneuve was named Rue Neuve-Saint-Étienne-de-Bonne-Nouvelle. Later, it became Rue Saint-Étienne-de-la-Ville-Neuve. It finally received its current name in 1867.
Now, let’s look at some notable buildings around Rue de la Villeneuve. Number 1 reveals the side facade of the Beauregard public school. The main entrance is at 5 Rue Beauregard. Number 14 housed Le Beverley. It was the last pornographic cinema in Paris. Numbers 14-16 mark the location of the former Petit-Saint-Chaumont convent.
The street is quite short. It measures 122 meters in length. Its width varies from five to eight meters. Rue de la Villeneuve begins at 7 Rue Beauregard. It ends at 31 Boulevard de Bonne-Nouvelle. Bonne-Nouvelle and Réaumur-Sébastopol metro stations serve the area.
Rue de la Villeneuve may be small, but it encapsulates centuries of Parisian history. From waste heaps to tax-free havens, the street has seen it all. Next time you pass by, remember the stories beneath your feet. They echo through time, whispering tales of a new town built on old foundations.