7.11.16

Courtyards, alleys... again!


After soon 10 years of blogging, I may have the right to repeat myself a little? Yes, I have already posted about the courtyards and alleys in the 11th arrondissement, around rue du Faubourg-Saint-Honoré, rue de Charonne…  (see for example here and here). This area was where you bought your furniture before the arrival of IKEA. There are already some differences between what I saw a few years ago and now, but the atmosphere can still be felt, even if the furniture manufacturers are now even fewer and if you find more architect offices, hairdressing salons, restaurants, clothing stores …  

Anyhow, the idea was - and is - to check what is behind some more or less closed gates.  Some of the yards and alleys have surprising names. "Passage Lhomme" refers to Monsieur Lhomme who owned the land. "La Main d’Or" (the Golden Hand) refers to the name of an old hostel. "Passage de la Bonne Graine" used to be a place for grain trade. "Cour des Trois Frères" (the Three Brothers) is named after an owner who had three sons. "Cour de la Maison Brûlée", must obviously refer to a building that burnt down. "Cour de l’Etoile d’Or" (the Golden Star) refers to the name of a previous restaurant…. 


… and here are some views from all these places - and some more, unnamed. 





















A special mention for this a bit different one, built in the 1860's and referred to as "La Cour des Bourguignons" (the Burgundians). The high chimney was linked to a steam engine, which gave power to the different workshops.
  

3 comments:

Jeanie said...

The first time I walked through the doors of my friend Jerry's courtyard in the Marais I knew that behind these doors was always something special. These photos all reinforce that! How very beautiful!

French Girl in Seattle said...

Great photos, Peter! One of my favorite walks in the 20th arrondissement used to be along la rue des Vignoles. I loved taking a peek into all the side streets, with their tucked-away homes, former "fabriques"(factories,) and courtyards. I remember the red building of la Confédération du Travail, (is it still there?) and the flamenco place, whatever the name was. This is a really cool part of Paris and its working class roots, away from the usual tourist (and Bobo) haunts. ;-) -- Véronique

Anonymous said...



Seems like the people who work and live there, knew how to enhance the romantic and evocative feeling those places have; totally agreeing thus with the character of the beautiful and mythical city you love so much.
Fantastic photos! Thank you so much.
Maria