Rue du Delta

Tucked between bustling streets, Rue du Delta whispers tales of Montmartre’s playful past. Rue du Delta may seem unassuming now. But it once housed a vibrant amusement park. This was not just any park. It was the site of the “Egyptian Promenades”. Imagine thrilling rides on the “Egyptian Mountains”. These were early rollercoasters, with carts gliding down cables from towering pylons. Unfortunately, accidents led to their removal. The Promenades transformed into the Jardin du Delta in 1819. Rue du Delta’s name echoes this garden, a place of chariot races and dazzling fireworks by Claude Ruggieri. This “Delta” replaced earlier Egyptian Promenades. It offered entertainment until 1824. Then the owners decided to develop the street, giving it the name Rue du Delta. The name proved popular. Three different streets in Paris bore the “Delta” name. These included Rue Neuve du Delta (now part of Rue de Dunkerque) and Rue du Delta-Lafayette (now Rue de Valenciennes). Only our Rue du Delta, stretching 200 meters from Rue du Faubourg-Poissonnière to Rue de Rochechouart, retains the original name. Rue du Delta housed various businesses. Number 6 once held the “Berlines du Delta” company, established in 1828. They offered comfortable, clean, bright yellow carriages as a stylish alternative to the city’s fiacres. Number 7 hosted a temporary artist commune. The dilapidated building, slated for demolition, became a haven for struggling artists thanks to Paul Alexandre, an art lover and patron. Among them was Amedeo Modigliani, who found refuge here after being evicted from his previous studio. The commune thrived until the building’s demolition. Number 12 housed the workshops of François Appel, a renowned lithographer. His business employed 240 workers. Their creations, from calendars to decorated boxes, were highly sought after. A bust at number 13 commemorates Senefelder, the inventor of lithography. Today, Rue du Delta houses a diverse range of businesses, including art galleries, medical labs, and a post-production studio. It may not have the grandeur of other Parisian streets. But Rue du Delta offers a glimpse into a unique piece of Montmartre’s history.