II.3. A TRADE ROUTE FOR PILGRIMS AND KINGS (rue Saint-Denis)

MENU: 2.3.  TRDE RTE FR PILGRMS & KINGS

"WE ARE NOT MAKERS OF HISTORY. WE ARE MADE BY IT"

-- Martin Luther King

Rue Saint-Denis was a minor trade route until relics of France's most important Christian martyr were deposited in a church near its route. Later the kings made the Saint-Denis Basilica their mausoleum.  

(Relics, end of the third century; mausoleum, sixth century)

The religious and political importance of what had been a humble path became immense. 

                             Plan of Paris, toward 1640, zoom

The very long rue way is made up of segments. All hark back to the past. 

The red arrow shows our walk, the yellow one shows a site.

In brief

• The street that asserted royal power

• Medieval spirits linger

• Transforming rebel neighborhoods

• A hinterland for criminals, nobles and the garment district 

• Louis's arc looms over the route

• Toward the horizon

• Immigrants energize tradition

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Next,

II.3.1.

The street that asserted royal power