Is it possible that the Sentier des Voisinoux got its name from trails around city walls? Maybe. Let’s explore this fascinating area.
The Sentier des Voisinoux is in Paris’s dynamic 2nd arrondissement. This area is full of picturesque districts. They are both old and trendy.
The Sentier began when city walls were built during the Hundred Years War. A hamlet appeared in the 15th century at the gate of Saint-Denis. This hamlet was known for a unique feature. It had a hill made of garbage. In medieval times, waste disposal was different. Inhabitants threw their waste against the old wall. It was always in the same spot. This garbage hill grew to 10 meters high. Surprisingly, a windmill was built on top.
The hamlet was called Villeneuve sur Gravois. This means the New City on Gravel. Houses were surrounded by fields and vineyards. Trails led to the hill. The French word for trail is “sentier”. This might be how the area got its name. Another theory suggests the name comes from walks around the city walls.
In 1591, the garbage hill was destroyed. Paris was rebelling against King Henri IV. People feared he would use the hill for cannons.
The church, now called Notre-Dame-de-Bonne-Nouvelle, was built in 1628. It was restored in the early 19th century. The church has beautiful paintings by renowned artists like Philippe de Champaigne. The architecture from the 17th and 18th centuries shows the district’s renewal. Some streets date from the Haussmanian renovation of Paris in the mid-19th century.
In the 17th century, the area was known for the Court of Miracles. This counter-society had 30000 people living in a fortified slum. They had a king and their own laws. They also had taxes and slang. Begging and stealing were their main activities. Beggars pretended to be sick or invalid. This was to gain sympathy. Once back in their slum, they stopped pretending. Thus came the name Court of Miracles.
King Louis XIV could not tolerate this defiance. He sent La Reynie, the first police lieutenant of Paris, to destroy the Court of Miracles. In 1667, La Reynie besieged it. He warned that the last 12 beggars captured would be hanged. This threat caused panic. The beggars ran away. Parisians called the destruction “bonne nouvelle” or good news. This gave the nearby metro station its name.
Since the 17th century, many craftsmen settled in the Sentier. There were 60 workshops in the Rue de Cléry. They were mostly carpenters. They moved east of Paris in the 19th century. Ready-to-wear manufacturers replaced them. This grew in the 20th century. It peaked in the 1980s. The clothing industry attracted immigrants like Jews and Asians. Today, the Chinese community is growing. The district has also diversified. It now has data centers and start-ups. It is nicknamed “Silicone Sentier”.
Today, the Sentier offers unique experiences. You can observe clothing industry workers. Many use the streets as warehouses. The area is not just for shopping. Many boutiques are for wholesale trade. Businessmen design clothes here. They want to be close to the fashion world. On Saturdays, many stores close. Jewish owners respect the Shabbat. Monday is the busiest day. You will see many carriers and delivery workers. They are often hired on the street.
When visiting the Sentier, notice the church of Notre-Dame-de-Bonne-Nouvelle. Near the northern border, visit the Rex. This is a famous Parisian cinema. The original decoration has been kept since 1932. Another highlight is the vegetalized wall. It is at the corner of Rue d’Aboukir and Rue des Petits-Carreaux. It has 7600 plants from 237 species.
Mozart and his mother stayed at 8 Rue du Sentier in 1778. She died there. Later, a mansion was built. The main entrance is at 19 Rue de Cléry. It belonged to Élisabeth Vigée-Lebrun. She was famous for painting portraits of Marie Antoinette.
The Passage du Caire is the oldest covered passage in Paris. It has clothing shops. It opened after Napoleon’s troops entered Cairo in 1798. This explains the Egyptian-related names in the district. At the end of Rue de Cléry, find the smallest street in Paris. It is the Rue des Degrés with only a staircase.
The Sentier district is a mix of history and modernity. Its transformation from a garbage hill to a tech hub is remarkable.