Rue de la Voute

Gazing up at the sky above Rue de la Voute, one can almost imagine the steam trains of the Petite Ceinture railway chugging along overhead. Rue de la Voute in the 12th arrondissement has a fascinating history. The street gets its name from a vaulted passage. This passage once allowed people to cross under the Cours de Vincennes. This grand avenue, now part of what we know as Avenue Daumesnil, required a significant embankment. This embankment made crossing difficult for local residents. So the vaulted passageway offered a solution. The Rue de la Voute we see today began as part of “Rue de la Voûte du Cours”. It existed in the 1730s as a route connecting Chemin des Marais (present-day Avenue Daumesnil) to a crossroads known as the “Milieu du Monde”. Over time, the street was integrated into Paris and officially named Rue de la Voute in 1873. The railway line above, the Petite Ceinture, also played a part in the street’s story. Originally built at ground level in the mid-1800s, it caused traffic congestion. Around 1888, the tracks were raised onto higher pillars. The artist Paul-Désiré Trouillebert even captured this elevation project in a painting titled “Les Travaux de relèvement du chemin de fer de ceinture, le pont de la rue de la Voûte”. This artwork showcases the transition from the old masonry pillars to the newer cast-iron supports, a visual reminder of the changes Rue de la Voute has witnessed. Even espionage has brushed against Rue de la Voute. In the late 1980s, number 44 bis became a secret surveillance hub for the DST (Directorate of Territorial Surveillance). An undercover agent, known as “Lofti Shami,” rented the apartment to infiltrate a terrorist network responsible for a series of bombings in Paris. The operation ultimately led to the arrest of the network’s leader and his accomplices. So, as you stroll along Rue de la Voute, remember that beneath its modern facade lie layers of history. From vaulted passages to raised railways and covert operations, this seemingly ordinary street has witnessed an extraordinary past.