Passage du Désir, thoroughfare in Paris, France
Passage du Désir is a narrow pedestrian corridor in the 10th arrondissement of Paris, roughly 5 meters wide and over 210 meters long, running between Rue du Faubourg-Saint-Martin and Rue du Faubourg-Saint-Denis. The passage consists of two sections interrupted by Boulevard de Strasbourg, containing residential buildings, small shops, and craft workshops, some dating back to the 18th century.
The passage received its current name in 1789, previously called Allée du Puits, and was originally a private closed lane bordered by gates. In 1852, the construction of Boulevard de Strasbourg cut through the area and split the passage into two separate sections, fundamentally altering its original structure.
The passage has borne its current name since 1789, previously called Allée du Puits, with the name possibly evoking old pleasure houses that once existed nearby. Today, residents use it as a quiet place to walk and shop at small local businesses and craft workshops that still bring activity to the narrow space.
The passage is pedestrian only, with no parking allowed in either section. It runs from 89, rue du Faubourg-Saint-Martin to 84, rue du Faubourg-Saint-Denis, and Boulevard de Strasbourg cuts it in two; each half has its own entrance from the boulevard, at 50 and at 61-63. Métro Château d'Eau and Gare de l'Est serve it, and bus line 32 stops at Faubourg Saint-Denis.
The passage's two halves differ in architecture, housing and activity. On the Faubourg-Saint-Denis side, nine of ten buildings form one co-ownership around a pedestrian-only lane; three known wells survive filled in the cellars, at 84 rue du Faubourg-Saint-Denis and at 40 and 36 passage du Désir, entered via number 40.
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