Cover Photo © Sladjana Perkovic
Cover Photo © Sladjana Perkovic

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Remarkable buildings in Paris: Carreau du Temple

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The Carreau du Temple, one of the most remarkable buildings in Paris, is a late nineteenth-century industrial architecture gem. Created as a covered market and renovated in the 2000s by the French authorities, the Carreau du Temple is a popular Parisian cultural and sports spot. Today, this place hosts many artistic and lifestyle events throughout the year as well as numerous sports classes from yoga to martial arts. This is an attractive Parisian location, definitely worth visiting.

Carreau du Temple, Paris
Carreau du Temple, Paris
2 Rue Perrée, 75003 Paris, France

History of the Carreau

The Knights Templar built a fortress in Paris in the 13th century. But, when this Catholic military order became too powerful,  the King of France decided to destroy them. In 1312, the order was dismissed. During the French Revolution, the members of the French royal family were detained in the remains of this medieval fortress. Finally, in 1808, Napoleon Bonaparte ordered its demolition. After that, the Parisian authorities decided to erect on that location a covered market made up of four halls. Every hall had its own specialty: carpets, household linen, thrift goods or leather, and between them, there was a “carreau”, a place selling second-hand clothing. In 1860, Baron Haussmann, a man behind the urban renewal of Paris, decided to create a new market building. He entrusted this job to the French architect Jules de Mérindol. He built a monumental facade made of metal, glass, and brinks. However, the market declined at the end of the nineteenth century, and in 1901, the authorities started to consider its demolition. The hall after the hall was torn down until 1982 when finally the only remaining building was registered in the inventory of the French historical monuments. The Carreau du Temple was saved. The major renovation of this building started in the 2000s, and many facilities were created, such as a 250-seat auditorium, 1,800 square meters multipurpose space, and many sport practice rooms. 

A peaceful location

The Carreau du Temple is located in a very busy neighborhood of the Place de la Republique. However, this building seems like it's placed on a quiet island. Just few steps from it, you can find the Square du Temple. In this beautiful park, people are resting all day long, playing ping-pong, and sunbathing on the lawn while the children are playing in the sand on the playground. The Carreau du Temple is situated not far from the Marché des Enfants Rouges, which is the oldest covered food market in Paris. 

© Sladjana Perkovic
© Sladjana Perkovic

Practical information

You can visit this remarkable building in Paris free of charge, but for specific events such as concerts, you will have to buy a ticket. The ticket office of the Carreau du Temple is open Monday to Friday from 10 am to 9 pm, and on Sundays from 10 am to 7 pm. In most cases, for sports classes, you will need to obtain an annual subscription.

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The author

Sladjana Perkovic

Sladjana Perkovic

Hello, my name is Sladjana, a journalist and writer living in Paris, France. I write about French well hidden places, gastronomy and cultural events.

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