Carreau du Temple, a market and festive spot for centuries, is now a cultural and sporting space.

HISTORY

Enriched during the Crusades, the order of warrior monks known as the Templars built a monastery in the late 12th century, accessible via rue du Temple (1242, expanded in 1851) and rue Vieille-du-Temple. When the order was dissolved in 1311, the Templars’ assets were transferred to the Hospitallers, including their Parisian monastery. A thick-walled tower was added, followed by a palace for the grand prioress (1567). The surrounding enclosure was a free zone benefiting from the right of asylum, attracting many artisans (and debtors). Used as a prison for the royal family during the Revolution, the tower was destroyed in 1811. The priory became a convent before being demolished in 1853 and transformed into a public square (1857). The enclosure later became a clothing market housed in a rotunda dating from 1781.

From 1809 onwards, four new wooden pavilions offered lace and silks, lingerie and cotton fabrics, second-hand clothing ("Le Pou volant"), as well as old furs—a trade previously located near the Marché des Innocents. Considered unsanitary, these pavilions were replaced in 1863 by iron, cast iron, and glass halls, some of which still stand today, built by Mérindol in the style of Baltard. However, the Carreau went into decline in the early 20th century, outcompeted by the new Saint-Ouen flea market: the four main pavilions extending to Rue du Temple were demolished. When the municipality sought to condemn the last two pavilions in 1973, residents and shopkeepers rallied to reverse the decision. Their lower sections, made of solid brick, once featured red and yellow bricks. The stone frames around the side entrances are remnants of the former rotunda.

TODAY: New Carreau du Temple

Inaugurated on April 25, 2014, the Carreau du Temple houses over 50 associations and hosts around forty major cultural, sporting, and lifestyle events, offering an eclectic artistic program blending highlights and regular events.

Carreau du Temple, 10 Rue Eugène-Spuller, Rue Dupetit-Thouars, Rue de Picardie, Rue Perrée, Square du Temple

4 rue Eugène Spuller - 75003 Paris - between rue Eugène-Spuller, rue Dupetit-Thouars, rue de Picardie, rue Perrée and square du Temple