“Montjoie Saint-Denis” a cry echoes through time. This is Rue Marx Dormoy in Paris. We stand at the very heart of its history. This unassuming street holds a story older than Paris itself. Before Paris was even Lutèce Rue Marx Dormoy was already a pathway. It was part of an ancient route. This route linked Lutèce to the north. It passed between Montmartre and Chaumont hills. The route continued through Saint-Denis. It served the famous Lendit fair.
For centuries Rue Marx Dormoy held royal significance. Kings of France used this road to enter Paris. They traveled from their coronation. Three montjoies stood along this very street. Montjoies were stone crosses. They were markers of royal devotion. These were the “montjoies du Lendit”. The name referred to a hill in the Saint-Denis plain. The war cry “Montjoie Saint-Denis” was evoked here. Louis XVIII was the last king to use this route in 1815. His triumphant return was however highly contested. It symbolized a return to the Ancien Régime.
Later this section of the road was called Faubourg de Gloire. This was during the 17th century. The area was incorporated into La Chapelle. That happened after the Revolution. The whole artery became known as Grande Rue. This was in the early 19th century. It extended from the current Place de la Chapelle to Avenue du Président Wilson in Saint-Denis. In 1860 La Chapelle was annexed to Paris. The Grande Rue became officially Rue de la Chapelle.
In 1945 the street was split. The first section was named Rue Marx Dormoy. It honors the French politician. He was assassinated in 1941. The name change was decreed on July 7 1945. Today Rue Marx Dormoy remains a testament. It’s a testament to history royal processions and revolutionary change. Walk along this street. Feel the weight of history beneath your feet. Rue Marx Dormoy whispers tales of kings and revolutionaries. It holds secrets of a city’s growth and a nation’s past.