Once upon a time Rue du Port aux Vins bustled with activity. Imagine the aroma of wine filling the air. This wasn’t just any Parisian street. Rue du Port aux Vins was the heart of Paris’s wine trade for centuries.
The Rue du Port aux Vins once led to the Halle aux Vins. This massive wine market was built on the initiative of Cardinal Mazarin. It opened in 1665. It replaced an older market at the Port de la Tournelle. The Halle aux Vins was conveniently located near the Seine River. This allowed for easy access for wine shipments.
The original Halle aux Vins wasn’t large enough. Paris’s wine consumption exploded in the 19th century. Demand more than tripled between 1800 and 1865. Napoleon I ordered a much larger market and warehouse. This new Halle aux Vins was completed in 1845. It covered fourteen hectares. It included fourteen halls and 123 cellars. Above the cellars were shops. The new Halle aux Vins was a marvel of engineering. It could store an incredible 500000 casks of wine.
The streets around the Halle aux Vins were also impressive. Wide boulevards were named after famous wine regions. Names like Rue de Champagne Rue de Bourgogne and Rue de Bordeaux lined the area. The boulevards were planted with oak and chestnut trees. Government offices were near the iron entrance gate. These offices handled inspections taxes and declarations. Smaller wooden offices served wine merchants.
Even the low stone buildings were special. They had arched entrances for each merchant. Behind them were large dark sheds and extensive underground cellars. These cellars held wine and spirits. The Halle aux Vins was truly a sight to behold. It was a testament to the importance of wine in Parisian life.
Sadly the Halle aux Vins eventually declined. The arrival of railways changed the wine trade. Bercy became the major wine center. The Halle aux Vins continued but with a focus on fine wines and spirits. Then came World War II. The Halle aux Vins was ravaged by fire. It was eventually demolished. Today the site houses the Jussieu campus and the Institut du Monde Arabe. Rue du Port aux Vins remains. It is a silent witness to a vibrant past. A past that once flowed with the finest wines of France.