Boulevard des Italiens
Encyclopedia
The boulevard des Italiens is one of the four 'grands boulevards' in Paris
, a chain running east west and also including boulevard de la Madeleine
, Boulevard des Capucines
and boulevard Montmartre
. The origin of the name is the théâtre des Italiens built on it in 1783, shortly before the French Revolution
(now replaced by the Opéra-Comique
).
Its former names were :
Throughout the 19th century the boulevard was a meeting place for the elegant elite of Paris (a role that lasted until the First World War).
It was to replace Muscadin
s and Merveilleuses at the time of the Directoire, Gandins at the Restauration
, Dandies
during the reign of Louis-Philippe 1st
, women in crinoline
s during the Second Empire
.
That time was also a major epoque for several famous Cafés: Café de Paris, café Tortoni (the café Tortoni
in Buenos Aires
takes its name from that in Paris), café Frascati, café Français, Maison dorée among others. Upon completion of boulevard Haussmann
in the 1920s these establishments disappeared to be replaced by other buildings, particularly financial ones.
At the junction with rue Laffitte
, a nice view of the Sacré-Coeur de Montmartre, which seems to be placed on the top of the Church Notre-Dame-de-Lorette
, whereas in fact, it is much more distant.
At the corner of rue de la Chaussée d'Antin was the Dépôt des Gardes-françaises (French Guards' barracks) built by the colonel Duke of Biron in 1764. It gave the name of the boulevard for some years. On 12 July 1789, a platoon of the gards saved his colonel, Duchâtelet, from popular riots.
At the corner of rue Louis-le-Grand, Palais Berlitz
built in the style of the 1930s in place of the Pavillon de Hanovre of the 18th century which has been disassembled and rebuilt in the park of Sceaux.
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, a chain running east west and also including boulevard de la Madeleine
Boulevard de la Madeleine
The Boulevard de la Madeleine is one of the four 'grands boulevards' in Paris, a chain running east west and also including boulevard de la Madeleine, Boulevard des Capucines, Boulevard des Italiens and Boulevard Montmartre....
, Boulevard des Capucines
Boulevard des Capucines
The Boulevard des Capucines is one of the four 'grands boulevards' in Paris, a chain of boulevards running east-west that also includes Boulevard de la Madeleine, Boulevard des Italiens, and Boulevard Montmartre....
and boulevard Montmartre
Boulevard Montmartre
Thee Boulevard Montmartre is one of the four grands boulevards of Paris. It was constructed in 1763. Contrary to what its name may suggest, the road is not situated on the hills of Montmartre...
. The origin of the name is the théâtre des Italiens built on it in 1783, shortly before the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
(now replaced by the Opéra-Comique
Opéra-Comique
The Opéra-Comique is a Parisian opera company, which was founded around 1714 by some of the popular theatres of the Parisian fairs. In 1762 the company was merged with, and for a time took the name of its chief rival the Comédie-Italienne at the Hôtel de Bourgogne, and was also called the...
).
Its former names were :
- boulevard Neuf (=New boulevard)
- boulevard du Dépôt (boulevard of the barrack), because of a barrack installed in 1764 on the corner of rue de la Chaussée d'Antin
- boulevard de la Chaussée d'Antin
- boulevard Cerutti with the name of an hôtel on the boulevard (during the French Revolution)
- le petit Coblence ("little Koblenz") after 1795, since many émigrés returning to France during the French DirectoryFrench DirectoryThe Directory was a body of five Directors that held executive power in France following the Convention and preceding the Consulate...
gathered on it (KoblenzKoblenzKoblenz is a German city situated on both banks of the Rhine at its confluence with the Moselle, where the Deutsches Eck and its monument are situated.As Koblenz was one of the military posts established by Drusus about 8 BC, the...
had been a popular exile destination for them) - boulevard de Gand, on one side of the boulevard, under the second Bourbon RestorationBourbon RestorationThe Bourbon Restoration is the name given to the period following the successive events of the French Revolution , the end of the First Republic , and then the forcible end of the First French Empire under Napoleon – when a coalition of European powers restored by arms the monarchy to the...
, from 1815 to 1828 in memory of Louis XVIII's exile in GhentGhentGhent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...
during the Hundred DaysHundred DaysThe Hundred Days, sometimes known as the Hundred Days of Napoleon or Napoleon's Hundred Days for specificity, marked the period between Emperor Napoleon I of France's return from exile on Elba to Paris on 20 March 1815 and the second restoration of King Louis XVIII on 8 July 1815...
.
Throughout the 19th century the boulevard was a meeting place for the elegant elite of Paris (a role that lasted until the First World War).
It was to replace Muscadin
Muscadin
The term Muscadin refers to idle youth, particularly young boys, during the time of the French Revolution. From about 1793 to 1795 these well-dressed young men rebelled against the carelessness of the sans-culottes. They organized into gangs and generally harassed and attacked Jacobin vendors. ...
s and Merveilleuses at the time of the Directoire, Gandins at the Restauration
Restauration
Restauration is French for restoration.Restauration can refer to:*European Restoration, the return of many monarchies after Napoleon's French were defeated.** Bourbon Restoration, the restoration of the French monarchy under Louis XVIII....
, Dandies
Dandy
A dandy is a man who places particular importance upon physical appearance, refined language, and leisurely hobbies, pursued with the appearance of nonchalance in a cult of Self...
during the reign of Louis-Philippe 1st
Louis-Philippe of France
Louis Philippe I was King of the French from 1830 to 1848 in what was known as the July Monarchy. His father was a duke who supported the French Revolution but was nevertheless guillotined. Louis Philippe fled France as a young man and spent 21 years in exile, including considerable time in the...
, women in crinoline
Crinoline
Crinoline was originally a stiff fabric with a weft of horse-hair and a warp of cotton or linen thread. The fabric first appeared around 1830, but by 1850 the word had come to mean a stiffened petticoat or rigid skirt-shaped structure of steel designed to support the skirts of a woman’s dress into...
s during the Second Empire
Second French Empire
The Second French Empire or French Empire was the Imperial Bonapartist regime of Napoleon III from 1852 to 1870, between the Second Republic and the Third Republic, in France.-Rule of Napoleon III:...
.
That time was also a major epoque for several famous Cafés: Café de Paris, café Tortoni (the café Tortoni
Café Tortoni
The Café Tortoni is a coffeehouse located at #825 of Avenida de Mayo in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Inaugurated on 1858 by a French immigrant whose surname was Touan, it was named Tortoni after the local in Paris at Boulevard des Italiens where the elite of the Parissiense culture gathered in the 19th...
in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
takes its name from that in Paris), café Frascati, café Français, Maison dorée among others. Upon completion of boulevard Haussmann
Boulevard Haussmann
Boulevard Haussmann, running from the 8th to the 9th arrondissement,is one of the wide tree-lined boulevards created in Paris during the Second French Empire by Baron Haussmann, with enthusiastic support from Napoleon III....
in the 1920s these establishments disappeared to be replaced by other buildings, particularly financial ones.
Notable places
Source :Rue Laffitte
Rue Laffitte is a street in Paris' IXe arrondissement.This street was created in 1771 between the Boulevard des Italiens and the Rue de Provence. Its original name was Rue d'Artois, in honour of the Comte d'Artois, brother of the king Louis XVI, later king of France with the name of Charles X...
, a nice view of the Sacré-Coeur de Montmartre, which seems to be placed on the top of the Church Notre-Dame-de-Lorette
Church Notre-Dame-de-Lorette, Paris
The Church Notre-Dame-de-Lorette is a neoclassical church built by architect Louis-Hippolyte Lebas between 1823 and 1836 in the 9th arrondissement of Paris....
, whereas in fact, it is much more distant.
- At n° 13, the place of the former Café AnglaisCafé Anglais (Paris)The Café Anglais was a famous French restaurant located at the corner of the Boulevard des Italiens and the Rue de Marivaux in Paris, France.- History :...
(1802-1913) famous restaurant of the Second Empire, replaced by a building in the Art Nouveau style.
- At n° 16, the place of the former Café Riche (1791)
- At n° 19, Crédit Lyonnais headquartersCrédit Lyonnais headquartersThe Crédit Lyonnais headquarters is installed in a haussmannian style building in the 2nd arrondissement of Paris...
built from 1876 to 1913 in the Haussman style.
- At n° 20, the place of the former luxury restaurant La Maison doréeMaison dorée (Paris)The Maison Dorée was a famous restaurant located at 20 Boulevard des Italiens, Paris.-Beginnings:The Maison Dorée story begins with the Stainville-Choiseul hotel where Madame Tallien lived...
(the Golden House) (1839-1841). Now the headquarters of the bank BNP ParibasBNP ParibasBNP Paribas S.A. is a global banking group, headquartered in Paris, with its second global headquarters in London. In October 2010 BNP Paribas was ranked by Bloomberg and Forbes as the largest bank and largest company in the world by assets with over $3.1 trillion. It was formed through the merger...
designed by Joseph Marrast, which, however, retained the original facade (example of facadismFacadismFaçadism is the practice of demolishing a building but leaving its facade intact for the purposes of building new structures in it or around it....
)
- At n° 22, the place of the former Café Tortoni
- At n° 26, the place of the former Cafe de Bade
- At n° 36, a building created in 1929 by Michel Roux-SpitzMichel Roux-Spitz-Life:Roux-Spitz was born 13 June 1888 in Lyon.The son of an architect, he entered the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, Lyon in the studio of Tony Garnier and then became a student in the workshop of Gaston Redon and Alfred Henry Recoura at the National School of Fine Arts in Paris.He won the Prix de Rome in...
. The ground floor was used as exposition hall for the Ford cars. Now, it is a fast food restaurant.
At the corner of rue de la Chaussée d'Antin was the Dépôt des Gardes-françaises (French Guards' barracks) built by the colonel Duke of Biron in 1764. It gave the name of the boulevard for some years. On 12 July 1789, a platoon of the gards saved his colonel, Duchâtelet, from popular riots.
At the corner of rue Louis-le-Grand, Palais Berlitz
Palais Berlitz
The Palais Berlitz is an office building built in Paris in the 1930s on a quadrilateral formed by the Boulevard des Italiens, the rue Louis-le-Grand, the Rue de la Michodière and the rue du Hanovre....
built in the style of the 1930s in place of the Pavillon de Hanovre of the 18th century which has been disassembled and rebuilt in the park of Sceaux.