Passage de la Main-d'Or, thoroughfare in Paris, France
The Passage de la Main-d'Or is a narrow walkway in Paris stretching about 250 meters and only 2.5 meters wide. It connects rue du Faubourg-Saint-Antoine to rue de Charonne with cobblestone paving, flanked by old building facades on both sides that show visible signs of age.
The passage was officially integrated into the city's street system in 1966, after long being known as 'Cour de la Main-d'Or'. The area developed as a hub for craftspeople and traders concentrated around rue du Faubourg-Saint-Antoine, a district famous for its furniture workshops and metalwork.
The name 'Main-d'Or' meaning 'Golden Hand' comes from the old trades and craftspeople who once filled this area. Local artisan workshops still operating nearby continue the neighborhood's longstanding tradition of furniture making, bronze casting, and metalwork that defines daily life here.
The passage is easily accessible on foot and is pedestrian-focused especially in its southern section, though vehicles can drive further north. Early mornings and evenings are quieter times, making it an unhurried place to walk through.
Hidden within the passage sits the Theatre de la Main d'Or at number 15, a small arts theater that has hosted local performances for years. Additionally, faded plaques and the historic gateway entrance 'Porte de la Cité Dupuy' from around 1880 serve as reminders of when this place housed working artisans and small shops.
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