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The Rue de la Paix (English: Peace Street; French pronunciation: [ʁy də la pɛ]) is a fashionable shopping street in the centre of Paris. Located in the 2nd arrondissement, running north from Place Vendôme and ending at the Opéra Garnier, it is best known for its jewellers, such as the shop opened by Cartier in 1898.[1] Charles Frederick Worth was the first to open a couture house in the Rue de la Paix. Many buildings on the street are inspired in design by the hôtels particuliers of Place Vendôme.
Hôtel Westminster on the Rue de la Paix
| |
  Shown within Paris | |
| Length | 230 m (750 ft) |
|---|---|
| Width | 22.50 m (73.8 ft) |
| Arrondissement | 2nd |
| Quarter | Gaillon |
| Coordinates | 48°52′8.87″N 2°19′52.06″E / 48.8691306°N 2.3311278°E / 48.8691306; 2.3311278 |
| From | 2 Rue des Capucines and 32 Rue Danielle Casanova |
| To | 1 Place de l'Opéra |
| Construction | |
| Completion | 19 February 1806 |
The street was opened in 1806 from Place Vendôme on the orders of Napoleon, part of the Napoleonic program to open the heart of the Right Bank of Paris, both towards the undeveloped western suburbs and to the north. Creating the new street required the demolition of the ancient Convent of the Capucins. At first named Rue Napoléon, its name was changed in 1814,[2] after the Bourbon Restoration, to celebrate the newly arranged peace.[3][4]
During the Paris Commune, the street saw a demonstration protesting against the commune government. On 22 March 1871, National Guard soldiers, who were commanded by Jules Bergeret, after being fired upon, fired into a crowd of mostly unarmed marchers that were heading to Place Vendôme. The resulting bloodshed saw 12 protestors killed and a soldier. The event has been termed the Massacre in the Rue de la Paix. It was the first act of violence against the Parisian citizens since the siege of Paris ended two months before. [5]
Based in the centre of Paris, the street can be reached by:
In 1847 all even numbers in the Rue de la Paix south of the junction with rue Daunou changed up by two following the redevelopment of number 4 into two units, becoming 4 and 6. Due to the anomaly of being two number 14 on the corners either side of Rue Daunou the numbers north of this road were increased by four. Therefore Maison Maguet did not physically move location, it was just their street number within the address that changed. The famous jeweller and clockmaker Athanase Bourdin had his shop at no. 24, as a part of the Hotel Canterbury, with the number of both changing to 28 in 1847 although neither moved location. Number 28 was demolished in 1868 to make way for the new boulevard fronting the Opera House. Prior to 1847 Louis Aucoc had their address as Rue de la Paix 4, only becoming 6 after this date.
Also mentioned in the Noël Coward song: "Parisian Pierrot" (recorded 1936); "...The Rue de la Paix is under your sway..." Also mentioned in the Leonard Gershe Rodger Edens song "Bonjour Paris" featured in the 1957 film Funny Face.