3.4.14

The Temple area


In my last post about the “Carreau du Temple” I promised to revert with something more.

Despite the fact that I already wrote (see here) about the long history of this area, I cannot resist against some more history and mapping.

Just round the corner of the covered market, you can find some kind of wall map of what the area looked like in 1793, before some demolition was started. Some illustrations “stolen” on the net, show the aspect of what once was the home of the Templars by the end of the 18th century, when Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette were imprisoned in the old tower / castle-keep. This tower stood just in front of where now the 3rd arrondissement Town Hall stands – see the blue marks on the pavement.  

I also made a comparison between today and the Turgot-plan from 1739 and with the city plan from 1790 (the tower encircled).


I amused myself by trying to incorporate these plans with the present look of Paris.

In the beginning of the 19th century the area was completely remodelled. We could then find the “Rotonde du Temple” (already there since 1788) and wooden covered markets were added early 19th century. This became an important centre for clothes and tissue merchants.


All this was replaced around 1863 and a vast area was covered by a steel, brick and glass complex, still specializing in the same trade. In this illustration from the end of the 19th century, we can see what it all looked like – including a new little park and the local Town Hall (3rd arrondissment).

Four of originally six pavilions were dismantled 1905 and today remain only the two we know. The space of the four disappeared ones is now occupied by some imposing, well decorated, official and school buildings from the early 19th century.




So, now coming to what we can see today. My previous post already described the remodelled covered market buildings. What is really attractive is the beautiful little park, Square du Temple, opened around 1860, once again thanks to J-C Alphand, who was involved in the creation of the majority of the still existing Paris parks and squares. (I mentioned him in a number of my previous posts.) I found some of this year’s first ducklings.  


The area is getting more and more attractive for strolling around, with a great number of cafés, restaurants, art galleries, libraries, flower shops…



In one of the courtyards I found this beautiful and very alert cat. 


3 comments:

Denise Covey said...

Very beautiful as always Peter.

Synne said...

I really like this part of town! You can feel the history in the masonwork as well as see the modern, everyday life going on around you. Charming!
That cat is beautiful, by the way.
Happy weekend, Peter!

Jeanie said...

Square du Temple looks a bit more colorful than April 2012 when Rick and I stopped there to relax and watched a ping pong game in progress. Clearly it was coach and students and one was definitely better than the other! This area is north but near where I stayed in Paris (I was closer to the Chat Cafe, north or Rambuteau) but we came home this way more than once. So hearing the history is particularly fascinating, giving a completely different context to the area. Thanks!