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Origin and history

The Carreau du Temple, located in the 3rd arrondissement of Paris, is a former covered market built in the 19th century. Originally, this site housed a prosperous medieval market, enjoying privileges such as the right of asylum for insolvent debtors. At the beginning of the 19th century, it became a market specialized in frying and old clothes, with wooden hangars built between 1809 and 1811. These installations were replaced in 1863-1865 by six modern iron, glass and brick pavilions designed by architects Ernest Legrand and Jules de Mérindol.

In 1904, Le Carreau hosted the first Paris Fair, but four of the six pavilions were dismantled as early as 1905. The market experienced a gradual decline from the 1950s onwards, from 1,000 merchants to about ten in the 2000s. Threatened by demolition in 1976 to give way to a parking lot, it was saved thanks to a citizen mobilization. Ranked a historic monument in 1982, it was completely restored between 2007 and 2014 to become a multidisciplinary space combining culture, sport and events.

The Temple Carreau was also a festive and cultural place. In the 19th century, it was home to gouggets, singing societies like the Children of Goguette, and organized a carnival cavalcade for Mi-Careme each year, with the election of a queen. These traditions disappeared in the 20th century. Today, the site offers varied programming: contemporary dance, concerts, exhibitions, sports, and artistic residences, while preserving its commercial and architectural heritage.

Archaeological excavations carried out in 2003 revealed the apse of the church of Sainte-Marie-du-Temple, recalling the medieval history of the place. The renovation project, led by architect Jean-François Milou, included modern spaces such as a 250-seat auditorium, dance studios, and multi-purpose rooms. The Carreau is now managed by a local public company, combining municipal grants and own resources to finance its activities.

The historic market was organized into specialized pavilions, such as the Square of the Palais Royal (tapis, silks) or the Square of the Black Forest (cuir). These divisions reflected the commercial diversity of the site, which attracted up to 4,000 people at the end of the 18th century. The Rotonde, built in 1788-1790, was a privileged place for shops, thanks to its status of extraterritoriality. These elements disappeared with successive reconstructions, but the name Carreau persisted, evoking his past as a place of exchange and encounter.

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