Perhaps, as you stand here on Rue des Maraîchers, you can almost smell the faint scent of peaches. This street whispers tales of Paris’s past. It is a past where market gardens thrived on the hills of Belleville and Montreuil.
Rue des Maraîchers translates to street of the market gardeners. Until the 20th century, this area was a haven for cultivation. The most famous products were the peaches of Montreuil. These peaches were so special.
Let’s delve a little deeper into what makes this location so interesting. Maraîchers is also the name of a Paris Métro station. This station sits on Line 9 in the 20th arrondissement. It lies directly under Rue des Maraîchers. The station proudly carries the street’s name.
The Maraîchers station opened on December 10, 1933. It was part of an extension of Line 9. This extension ran from Richelieu-Drouot to Porte de Montreuil. The station provided an out-of-station connection to the Gare de la rue d’Avron. This was on the Petite Ceinture railway. However, that railway closed to passenger traffic just months later in July 1934.
The station has three access points. These entrances are located on Rue des Pyrénées, Rue des Maraîchers, and Rue d’Avron. If you look closely, you will notice the unique design elements. The lower parts of the platform walls are vertical. This differs from the usual elliptical shape found in other stations. The reason is the road’s narrow width above. It measures only 18 meters wide.
In 2019, about 2.6 million passengers used the Maraîchers station. This made it the 199th busiest station on the Métro network. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, over 1.3 million passengers passed through it. By 2021, the numbers rose again to almost 2 million.
The station’s corridors and platforms were renovated in 2006. This was part of the “Un métro + beau” program. The aim was to modernize and improve the station’s aesthetics.
Imagine the bustling scene. Market gardeners worked tirelessly on the hills surrounding this very street. They brought their goods to market. The name Rue des Maraîchers forever preserves their memory. The Maraîchers station serves as a constant reminder of this rich agricultural past.
Take a moment to appreciate this blend of past and present. The street’s history is interwoven with the city’s modern transportation system. As you continue your journey, remember the legacy of the market gardeners. Their hard work shaped this area. The peaches of Montreuil are a symbol of their dedication. Now, the Rue des Maraîchers stands as a testament to their enduring impact on Paris.