Rue Lepic
Encyclopedia
Rue Lepic is an ancient road in the commune of Montmartre
, in the 18th arrondissement
of Paris
, climbing the hill of Montmartre from the boulevard de Clichy
to the place Jean-Baptiste-Clément
It is an ancient road resulting of rectification and re-arrangement of several dirt-roads leading to the Blanche barrier (Place Blanche
), starting life as Chemin-neuf (Le chemin-vieux was rue de Ravignan). In 1852 it was renamed rue de lEmpereur, and renamed again in 1864, after the General Louis Lepic
(1765-1827).
Louis Renault
built his first car in 1898, calling his car the Voiturette
. On December 24, 1898, he won a bet with his friends that his invention was capable of driving up the slope of Rue Lepic. As well as winning the bet, Renault received 12 definite orders for the vehicle.
On 7 September 1960, Fernand
and Jackie Sardou
opened their cabaret Chez Fernand Sardou on the road in place of cabaret Belzébuth next to the residence of Utrillo. The cabaret became a preferred meeting place and played to a full house every night. Michel Sardou
had his professional début there, firstly as a server.
In the Claude Autant-Lara
film, La Traversée de Paris
(1956), "Martin" (played by André Bourvil) et "Grandgil" (played by Jean Gabin
) were pictured in this road during the German occupation of France transporting a jointed pig destined for the black market.
Yves Montand
dedicated to this road the song "Rue Lepic" in the album "Yves Montand" (1974).
Montmartre
Montmartre is a hill which is 130 metres high, giving its name to the surrounding district, in the north of Paris in the 18th arrondissement, a part of the Right Bank. Montmartre is primarily known for the white-domed Basilica of the Sacré Cœur on its summit and as a nightclub district...
, in the 18th arrondissement
XVIIIe arrondissement
The 18th arrondissement , located on the Rive Droite , is one of the 20 arrondissements of Paris, France...
of Paris
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...
, climbing the hill of Montmartre from the boulevard de Clichy
Boulevard de Clichy
The Boulevard de Clichy , which lends its name to the Place de Clichy, resulted from the fusion, in 1864, of the roads that paralleled the Wall of the Farmers-General, both inside and out. It extends from the Place de Clichy to the Rue des Martyrs, nearly a kilometre away...
to the place Jean-Baptiste-Clément
It is an ancient road resulting of rectification and re-arrangement of several dirt-roads leading to the Blanche barrier (Place Blanche
Place Blanche
Place Blanche in Paris, France is one of the small plazas along the Boulevard de Clichy, which runs between the 9th and 18th arrondissements and leads into Montmartre....
), starting life as Chemin-neuf (Le chemin-vieux was rue de Ravignan). In 1852 it was renamed rue de lEmpereur, and renamed again in 1864, after the General Louis Lepic
Louis Lepic
Louis Lepic, count, was a French commander of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, who eventually rose to the rank of général de division and held the prestigious command of the Grenadiers à Cheval de la Garde Impériale, the senior heavy cavalry regiment of the Imperial Guard.-Early...
(1765-1827).
Notable addresses
- At n°15, brasserie Café des 2 Moulins where the film AmélieAmélieAmélie is a 2001 romantic comedy film directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet. Written by Jeunet with Guillaume Laurant, the film is a whimsical depiction of contemporary Parisian life, set in Montmartre...
was set. - At n°25, in 1910, the cabaret La Vache Enragée was based here.
- At n°50, poet Jehan RictusJehan RictusJehan Rictus was a French poet, born Gabriel Randon in Boulogne-sur-Mer ....
lived at this address for over a decade. - At n°53, resided Jean-Baptiste Clément (singer and prominent in Paris Commune) from 1880 to 1891. He then moved to n°112.
- At n°54, lived Van GoghVincent van GoghVincent Willem van Gogh , and used Brabant dialect in his writing; it is therefore likely that he himself pronounced his name with a Brabant accent: , with a voiced V and palatalized G and gh. In France, where much of his work was produced, it is...
and his brother Théo, on the third floor, from 1886 to 1888; Art dealer Alphonse Portier, lived on the first floor for several years - Armand GuillauminArmand GuillauminArmand Guillaumin , was a French impressionist painter and lithographer.Born Jean-Baptiste Armand Guillaumin in Paris, he worked at his uncle's lingerie shop while attending evening drawing lessons. He also worked for a French government railway before studying at the Académie Suisse in 1861...
had consigned some of his paintings to him in 1887. - At n°59, lived the painter Charles Léandre in 1910; former site of Moulin de la Fontaine-Saint-Denis.
- At n°64, once lived satirical cartoonist Forain in 1875.
- At n°65, adjacent to avenue Junot, is site of the Moulin-Neuf (1741).
- At n°72, former workshop of Félix ZiemFélix ZiemFélix Ziem was a French painter in the style of the Barbizon School.Born Félix-Francois Georges Philibert Ziem in Beaune in the Côte-d'Or département of the Burgundy région of France, his mother was a native of Burgundy who married a Croatian immigrant...
. - At n°73, site of the Moulin-Vieux, which was demolished in 1860.
- At n°77, Moulin de la GaletteMoulin de la GaletteThe Moulin de la Galette is a windmill and associated businesses situated near the top of the district of Montmartre in Paris. Since the 17th century the windmill has been known for more than just its milling capabilities...
and Moulin le Radet. - At n°85 à 87, Moulin de la Petite-Tour construction dating from 1647.
- At n°87, once lived Willette.
- At n°89 à 93, Moulin de la Vieille-Tour, built in 1623.
- At n°95 à 99, site of the Moulin-du-Palais, built in 1640.
- At n°98, Louis-Ferdinand CélineLouis-Ferdinand CélineLouis-Ferdinand Céline was the pen name of French writer and physician Louis-Ferdinand Destouches . Céline was chosen after his grandmother's first name. He is considered one of the most influential writers of the twentieth century, developing a new style of writing that modernized both French and...
resided. - At n°100, Austrian doctor David GrubyDavid GrubyDavid Gruby was a Hungarian physician who was born in the village of Kis-Kér . He received his doctorate in Vienna and performed scientific research in Paris....
built an observatory on the roof of the building in 1860. - Au n°102, rough site of Moulin de la Grande-Tour, a tower constructed in stone which was taken down before the French RevolutionFrench RevolutionThe 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...
. - At n°112, resided Jean-Baptiste Clément in 1891.
In history
Painter and engraver Eugène Delâtre lived and worked on rue Lepic. He successively occupied addresses n°92, n°87, n°97, and also n°102.Louis Renault
Louis Renault
Louis Renault may refer to:* Louis Renault * Louis Renault * A character from the film Casablanca...
built his first car in 1898, calling his car the Voiturette
Renault Voiturette
The Renault Voiturette was Renault's first ever produced automobile, and was manufactured between 1898 and 1903. The name was used for five models....
. On December 24, 1898, he won a bet with his friends that his invention was capable of driving up the slope of Rue Lepic. As well as winning the bet, Renault received 12 definite orders for the vehicle.
On 7 September 1960, Fernand
Fernand Sardou
Fernand Sardou was a French singer and actor.Sardou was the father of Michel Sardou, and he married Jackie Rollin , an actress. His two grandsons are French novelist Romain Sardou and French actor Davy Sardou....
and Jackie Sardou
Jackie Sardou
Jackie Sardou was a French actress.She was born Jackie Rollin in Paris, and married Fernand Sardou, a singer. She is the mother of singer Michel Sardou; and grandmother of Romain Sardou, an author and of Davy Sardou an actor. She died in 1998.- Selected filmography :* Street Without a King...
opened their cabaret Chez Fernand Sardou on the road in place of cabaret Belzébuth next to the residence of Utrillo. The cabaret became a preferred meeting place and played to a full house every night. Michel Sardou
Michel Sardou
Michel Sardou is a French singer.He was born in Paris, the son of Fernand Sardou and Jackie Rollin . Contrary to claims common towards the beginning of his career, he is not the grandson of the dramatist Victorien Sardou...
had his professional début there, firstly as a server.
In the Claude Autant-Lara
Claude Autant-Lara
Claude Autant-Lara , was a French film director and later Member of the European Parliament .-Biography:...
film, La Traversée de Paris
La Traversée de Paris (film)
La Traversée de Paris , is a French comedy drama film from 1956, directed by Claude Autant-Lara, written by Marcel Aymé, starring Jean Gabin, Bourvil and Louis de Funès...
(1956), "Martin" (played by André Bourvil) et "Grandgil" (played by Jean Gabin
Jean Gabin
-Biography:Born Jean-Alexis Moncorgé in Paris, he grew up in the village of Mériel in the Seine-et-Oise département, about 22 mi north of Paris. The son of cabaret entertainers, he attended the Lycée Janson de Sailly...
) were pictured in this road during the German occupation of France transporting a jointed pig destined for the black market.
Yves Montand
Yves Montand
-Early life:Montand was born Ivo Livi in Monsummano Terme, Italy, the son of poor peasants Giuseppina and Giovanni Livi, a broommaker. Montand's mother was a devout Catholic, while his father held strong Communist beliefs. Because of the Fascist regime in Italy, Montand's family left for France in...
dedicated to this road the song "Rue Lepic" in the album "Yves Montand" (1974).
Sources et references
- Dictionnaire historique des rues de Paris
- Paris Guide 1807 - Librairie Internationale