Rue des Portes Blanches

Cobblestone whispers underfoot. We stand before Rue des Portes Blanches, a small street tucked away in the 18th arrondissement of Paris. This seemingly unassuming lane holds a secret, a name that echoes a time long past. Rue des Portes Blanches translates to “Street of the White Gates,” a name that sparks the imagination. What were these white gates? Where did they lead? The street’s original name offers a clue: Chemin de la Croix-Moreau, the path of the Cross-Moreau. This suggests a rural past, perhaps a path leading to a cross or a landmark owned by someone named Moreau. The street once stretched further, connecting Rue des Poissonniers and Rue du Ruisseau. Over time, the section between Rue Boinod and Rue du Ruisseau was absorbed by Rue Ordener and Rue du Poteau, shortening Rue des Portes Blanches to its current length of 129 meters. Imagine walking this path centuries ago, the city of Paris a distant hum. The white gates, perhaps marking the entrance to a farm or vineyard, gleam in the sun. Today, the gates are gone, replaced by the bustling energy of the 18th arrondissement. Yet, the name remains, a ghostly reminder of a forgotten landscape. Rue des Portes Blanches, a small street, a simple name, but a gateway to a vanished past.