Fancy stepping into a time capsule right here on Rue des Reculettes? This street sits in Paris’s 13th arrondissement. It might seem like any other Parisian street. But Rue des Reculettes holds secrets beneath its surface.
Let’s dive into the story of Rue des Reculettes. Its name comes from a local saying. The street got its name from a fief that was under the Saint-Martin-des-Champs priory in the 14th century.
Once upon a time, this area was wilder. In 1378, the street was named as ruelle. The area was a steep cliff overlooking the Bièvre marshes. From 1372 to 1571, people called it Le Ré. This meant the edge or the brink.
The Rue des Reculettes was officially created in 1926. It replaced the old “ruelle des Reculettes”. Jacques Hillairet’s book has a photo of the old lane from 1925.
Notice how the street curves like an S. It’s also quite steep. The high and low points differ by about 15 meters. That’s an average slope of 6%.
At number 17, you’ll spot the back of the École Estienne. Look for bas-reliefs by Pierre Traverse. He created them in 1941. They show book arts and mythology. The path here was meant to link Rue des Reculettes to Rue Abel-Hovelacque. But the project never finished.
Also, the southern entrance to Square René-Le Gall is here. At number 29, admire the HBM building by architect Alexandre Maistrasse.
Now, let’s spice things up with a literary peek. Joris-Karl Huysmans described this street in his book “La Bièvre et Saint-Séverin”. He wrote about the workers and the women watching from windows. Old men tied vines along the buildings. He captured the street’s old vibe.
There’s more to Rue des Reculettes than meets the eye. At the corner of Rue des Reculettes and Rue Abel Hovelacque you can find ghost numbers.
Did you know that at number 16 of the Rue des Reculettes you can see the ravine of Bièvre? The ground floor is like the 4th floor on the Rue Croulebarbe side.
So, next time you wander here, remember its past. Rue des Reculettes blends history, art, and a bit of mystery. It’s a real piece of Paris.