“A concentration of shoe shops” That’s what you’ll find here on Rue de Meslay. But there is more to this street than just footwear. Rue de Meslay is a street in Paris’s 3rd arrondissement. It sits between the Marais and the Faubourg Saint-Martin. It’s near Place de la République.
Rue de Meslay stretches southeast. It goes beyond Rue du Temple, with Rue Béranger. To the west, it extends past Rue Saint-Martin, becoming Rue Sainte-Apolline. Today, Rue de Meslay is known for its many shoe shops. You will see stores with Chinese and African influences. You will also find “sape” shops. These sell fashion from Congo, the Republic of Congo, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Have you ever wondered how Rue de Meslay got its name? It is named after Rouillé de Meslay. He was a local property owner. Rue de Meslay has a rich history. It was built largely on the Butte Saint-Martin. This hill was part of a series of mounds. These mounds ran along Charles V’s wall. They were made from earth dug from the wall’s moats. The mounds grew with accumulated waste. Before 1609, the Butte was turned into a bastion. This was part of the fortification work on the Fossés Jaunes wall.
In the early 17th century, a street called Rue des Remparts existed. It ran along the city side of this fortification. It went from Porte du Temple to the foot of the bastion. This is where Passage du Pont-aux-Biches is now.
After 1670, the rampart was replaced. Boulevard Saint-Martin took its place. The boulevard partially leveled the Butte. Rue de Meslay had another name once. It was “Rue Meslée.” The street’s creation followed a council order. This order planned a new street. It would run from Rue du Temple to Rue Saint-Martin. This required moving earth from Butte Saint-Martin.
The development work took decades. It needed significant earthworks. Debris from leveling the Butte’s summit created a slope. This slope led from Porte du Temple. The street fully opened in 1723. This happened after buying two houses blocking access to Rue Saint-Martin.
Rue de Meslay was part of a larger plan. This plan aimed to open up central Paris. A ring road would connect Place Royale and Place des Victoires. From 1806 to 1829, the painter Louis-Léopold Boilly lived at number 12. He also had a studio at number 26. Jean-Marcel Poyer lived here at number 21. He was a member of the Bonnot gang.
At number 32 is Passage Meslay. It provides access to Boulevard Saint-Martin. You can find Passage des Orgues at number 36. It connects the street to Boulevard Saint-Martin. Number 37 houses Passage du Pont-aux-Biches. This links the street to Rue Notre-Dame-de-Nazareth. A house at number 42 was built around 1715. It was for Jean Pigalle. He was the father of sculptor Jean-Baptiste Pigalle.
The writer George Sand was born at number 46 Rue de Meslay. Her real name was Aurore Dupin. A plaque commemorates her birth. Her birthplace was a family property of sculptor Robert Le Lorrain.
Today, you can easily reach Rue de Meslay. It is near Place de la République. Several metro lines and bus routes serve the area. You can travel to various train stations and airports from here. Rue de Meslay has seen changes throughout its history. It has transformed from ramparts and mounds to a street full of commerce. So take a stroll down Rue de Meslay. Experience its blend of history and modern life.