It’s undoubtedly one of the most colorful streets in Paris, but also the most popular with tourists and Instagrammers – much to the chagrin of its residents… You’ll recognize it: the famous rue Crémieux, nestled in the 12th arrondissement of Paris. But do you know its history and all its colourful anecdotes? We’d like to share a few of its secrets with you…
Once upon a time, rue Crémieux…
Located in the Quinze-Vingt district, rue Crémieux is named after Adolphe Crémieux (1796-1880), the lawyer and politician behind the 1870 decree that gave French nationality to the Jews of Algeria. Although the name of rue Crémieux was given to him as a tribute, to find out about his Genesis, we have to go back to 1865. It was in this year that the famous rainbow-colored street came into being in the capital, opened by promoter Moïse Polydore Millaud. It then took the place of the Arènes Nationales, installed in 1851 and overlooking the Place de la Bastille.
The little secrets of Rue Crémieux
But what lovely secrets does Rue Crémieux hide? Lining this psychedelic street: 35 small terraced houses, no more than 2 storeys high, were once built according to a workers’ housing estate model very much in vogue in the 19th century. At the time, the apartments were occupied by well-to-do workers. In the 1900s, rue Crémieux witnessed an event that left its mark on the capital: the Seine flood of 1910. At no. 8 rue Crémieux, the river level rose to 1.75 m, and an earthenware commemorative plaque has since been affixed to the same spot. Today, rue Crémieux is one of the most popular the capital’s most popular spots this has a way of exasperating its inhabitants. While some of them display “no photography” signs on their facades, others have gone so far as to create an Instagram account called “Club Crémieux”. Here, influencers and Instagrammers who parade down their street all day long are gently mocked. While you’ve no doubt caught a glimpse of the famous pastel-colored street in video clips by Hoshi or Kids United, a lot of wild filming sometimes takes place on rue Crémieux, feeding the exasperation of its residents…
1993: rue Crémieux is decked out in its most colorful finery
The question on everyone’s mind: Has rue Crémieux always been so colourful? Well, no! Once known as Avenue Millaud, in reference to its creator Moïse Polydore Millaud, the street we now all know as Rue Crémieux hasn’t always sported its splendid pastel colors. It was back in 1993 that the 144-metre street was decked out in its finest rainbow finery. That year, the street was pedestrianized at the request of local residents. In exchange, Paris City Hall asks residents to restore their facades. “ Some have opted for pastel shades before turning to flashier colors,” says Delphine Baccuzat, president of the Rue Crémieux association. Green at n°21, blue at n°22, purple at n°23, yellow at n°24… An explosion of color, and the charm is still there…