[An illustration of a ship, symbolizing the symbol of Paris]

Histoire de Paris

La rue d’Aboukir

La rue suit le tracé de l’enceinte de Charles V élevée à partir de 1356. Les immeubles pairs occupent l’emplacement du mur, tandis que la rue se trouve sur l’ancien fossé comblé. Les fortifications furent démolies en 1634, étant devenues inutiles du fait de la construction du rempart des "Fossés jaunes" (nos actuels boulevards) et la rue fut ouverte. Dans sa partie comprise entre les rues des Petits-Carreaex et St-Denis, elle fut nommée Bourbon-Villeneuve en l’honneur de Jeanne de Bourbon, abbesse de Fontevrault, qui y possédait des terrains. Elle longeait la butte de Villeneuve-sur-Gravois, constituée de gravats qui avaient fini par dépasser la muraille. Au XVle siècle, des habitations s’y installèrent, intégrées dans la ville par le nouveau rempart. La butte fut en partie arasée lors de sa construction, et les terres servirent à combler le fossé où s’ouvrit la rue. Aux XVIIe et XVIIIe siècles, elle s’orna de demeures dont beaucoup subsistent aujourdhui. Les n°82, 84 et 86 comptent parmi les plus anciennes; elles ont été bâties en 1640-1650 pour le maîtremenuisier Etienne Courtois. Fouquier-Tinville habita de 1775 à 1783 à lemplacement du n°113. La rue fut nommée d’Aboukir en 1807.

One of the series of signs describing historical places in Paris. The signs were placed starting in 1992 and are also called sucettes Starck (Starck’s Lollipops) after Philippe Starck who designed them.

The sign describes the street that, starting in 1807, was called Abukir Street after the Battle of Abukir that took place as part of the French campaign in Egypt and Israel on July 25, 1799, a battle in which Napoleon defeated the Ottoman army.

The street was photographed on the same day Click for a larger image Click for a larger image

Translation of the text on the sign:
[An illustration of a ship, symbolizing the symbol of Paris]

History of Paris

Aboukir Street
The street follows the route of the enclosure of Charles V built from 1356. The even buildings occupy the site of the wall, while the street is on the old filled-in moat. The fortifications were demolished in 1634, having become useless due to the construction of the rampart of the "Yellow Ditches" (our current boulevards) and the street was opened. In its part between the streets of Petits-Carreaex and St-Denis, it was named Bourbon-Villeneuve in honor of Jeanne de Bourbon, abbess of Fontevrault, who owned land there. It ran along the hill of Villeneuve-sur-Gravois, made up of rubble which had ended up overtaking the wall. In the 16th century, dwellings were established there, integrated into the town by the new rampart. The mound was partly leveled during its construction, and the land was used to fill the ditch where the street opened. In the 17th and 18th centuries, it was decorated with residences, many of which remain today. Nos. 82, 84 and 86 are among the oldest; they were built in 1640-1650 for the master carpenter Etienne Courtois. Fouquier-Tinville lived from 1775 to 1783 at the location of number 113. The street was named Aboukir in 1807.