When people think of Paris, they usually think about the Seine River. However, Paris once had another important river called the Bièvre. Today, this river is invisible, but it played a major role in the city’s history. In the Middle Ages, the Bièvre flowed through Paris and provided water for many workers such as dyers, tanners, weavers, and butchers. One famous man, Jehan Gobelin, settled near the river in 1443 and created a dyeing workshop that became well known, especially for its red colour.
At that time, Paris looked more like a village, with small houses, fields, and watermills, especially in areas like the Butte-aux-Cailles in the 13th district. Over time, the Bièvre became very polluted. In the 18th century, it turned into an open sewer filled with toxic dyes and waste. Because of this, the city decided to take action.
During the 19th century, Baron Haussmann modernised Paris with wide boulevards and new buildings, and the Bièvre was gradually buried underground. Some parts of the city remained unchanged because the land was difficult to build on. The river also had a connection with the Palace of Versailles, as its water was diverted to supply fountains for King Louis XIV. Although the Bièvre was fully buried in 1912, its presence still shapes Paris today.
Vocabulary:
• dyeing (noun): the process of giving colour to fabric
• weaver (noun): a person who makes fabric by crossing threads
• tanner (noun): a person who prepares animal skin to make leather
• ragpicker (noun): a person who collects old cloth or waste
• sewer (noun): a system or place where dirty water and waste flow
• bury (verb): to put something underground
• divert (verb): to change the direction of something
• fountain (noun): a structure that sends water into the air
Source: BBC News