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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Café-Bar located at 116 avenue Ledru-Rollin, at the corner of Rue de Charonne in the 11th arrondissement of Paris, is located on the ground floor of a building built in 1902 by architect Julien Galopin. This neighborhood, historically lively since the 17th century, was then a place of passage between Paris and the old village of Charonne, marked by strong artisanal activity, especially in cabinetmaking and carpentry. The Rue de Charonne, lined with workshops and workers' housing, still preserves traces of this time, with buildings dating from the 17th and 18th centuries.

The coffee is attested as early as 1905 under the sign "To Jean Pierre, wines, liqueurs, beers, coffee, billiards", still visible under the current marquise. Its varnished wood front, adorned with Art Nouveau-style arabesques, and its interior decoration, comprising two ceramic panels representing feminine allegories (probably summer and spring), were preserved. These elements, characteristic of the aesthetics of the Belle Époque, led to its inscription in historical monuments on May 23, 1984.

Over time, the institution has changed its name: "Le Carrefour", "La Palette Bastille", and "Le Bistrot du Peintre" since 1997. These transformations reflect the evolution of the neighbourhood, from an industrial suburb to a more mixed place, mixing today restaurants, art galleries and housing. The Rue de Charonne, once marked by historical events such as the tragic demonstration of February 8, 1962 or the attacks of 2015, remains a symbol of Parisian memory.

The building that houses the café is part of a varied architectural environment, where remains of the 17th and 18th centuries coexist, such as the Hotel de Mortagne or the Cours Saint-Joseph and Jacques-Viguès, and more recent constructions. These contrasts illustrate the urban changes in the 11th arrondissement, between heritage preservation and modernization. Coffee, with its decor and history, embodies this duality between artisanal tradition and contemporary life.

The protection of coffee as a historical monument underlines its importance in the Parisian cultural landscape. Its inscription specifically concerns the front and interior decor, testifying to the desire to preserve representative elements of Art Nouveau in a constantly changing neighbourhood. Today, it remains an emblematic place, both for its architecture and for its role in the social life of the Faubourg Saint-Antoine.

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