Rue Saint-Denis, Rue Saint-Martin
| Where the Rue
Saint-Denis meets the Boulevard de Strasbourg, about half a mile down
the street from the Gare du Nord, is nowadays the centre of the rougher
side of Parisian night-life, so it’s not a place recommended in the
evenings. Even at High Noon, those easily shocked are going to be
shocked in this area, but there are several points of interest if you
can manage to concentrate your attention.
PORTE SAINT-DENIS and PORTE SAINT-MARTIN are two triumphal arches built by Louis XIV as toll-gates in the walls around the town. North of here was the suburbs, les faubourgs; see how the streets change their names as they pass through the arches; Rue Saint-Denis south of the arch, Rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis to the North; and the same for Rue Saint Martin and Rue du Faubourg Saint Martin. The road where the walls used to be is, of course, a Boulevard - a bulwark. |
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