For years I passed the Carreau de Temple, a shuttered iron and metal structure in the northern Marais/NORMA, spanning a full square block on a secluded square. I was told its last incarnation was a wholesale leather market and there was talk it was going to be taken over by the city in recent years.
Carreau de Temple has a fascinating history dating as far back as the twelfth century when the surrounding land including the rue Temple, Bretagne, Picardie and Béranger was given to the Knights of Templar, who constructed an 8 meter wall with a tower. During the French Revolution, the revolutionaries seized the temple and the Royal Family was imprisoned in it till August 1792 before they were executed. It was demolished in 1808 under the orders of Napoleon.
Architect Jules de Merindol put a new metal structure in place in 1860 and it was bought by the City of Paris in 1897. In 1904 it was chosen for the first Foire de Paris (Paris Fair) and after WW II it was made into a second hand clothing market.
In 1982 local residents saved the building from possible demolition by real estate developers wanting to build a car park by having listed as a Historic Monument. In 2001 former Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoe sought to restore Carreau de Temple and in 2007 an architectural competition started, gathering 133 propositions. Studio Milou won the competition and in 2009 archaeological excavations started before the structure was refurbished.
The final outcome was debuted on April 25 and Carreau de Temple is now the centerpiece of the Haut Marais neighborhood, hopefully bringing a boost to the area much like the Picasso Museum did in 1985 in the lower Marais.
Carreau de Temple is a multi-purpose cultural and exhibition space including a theater with 250 seats, dance studios, a gym, restaurant, and the first floor space will be used for trade and fashion shows and corporate events.
I was there last week and sporting event was being held with a temporary basketball court.
From May 12 to May 28, Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night in conjunction with Théâtre de la Ville will playing in the theater.
For more information about Carreau de Temple go to http://www.parismarais.com/newsletter/2014_02_26_Carreau-du-Temple.html
4 rue Eugène Spuller 75003
Metro: Temple or Republique
Open 8AM to 9PM daily
http://www.carreaudutemple.eu
I am happy to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes. Come take an ethnic culinary journey with me and chef and caterer Charlotte Puckette, co-author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook (with Olivia Kiang-Snaije). First we will shop at a Paris green-market for the freshest ingredients and then return to Charlotte's professional kitchen near the Eiffel Tower to cook a three-course lunch. After, we will indulge in the delicious feast we prepared along with hand-selected wines.
Cost: 185 euros per person (about $240)
Time: 9:30AM- 2PM (approximately 4 1/2 hours)
Location: We will meet by a metro station close to the market
Class days: Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday,Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Minimum of 2 students, maximum 6 students.
Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.
I am pleased as punch to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I will personally be leading. The Eye Prefer Paris Tour includes many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes & food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks, and much more.
Tours cost 210 euros for up to 3 people, and 70 euros for each additional person. I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.
Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com
Click here to watch a video of our famous Marais tour
