Read the Signs: Rue Oberkampf

Rue Oberkampf, in the 11th arrondissement of Paris, is named after Christophe-Philippe Oberkampf, an 18th-century German-born French industrialist. The busy street runs for 1.2km from Boulevard des Filles du Calvaire to Boulevard de Belleville.

You may not be familiar with Oberkampf’s name, but chances are you are familiar with his claim to fame: he founded the royal manufacture of printed cottons of Jouy-en-Josas where the iconic toile de Jouy fabric (with its monochromatic pastoral scenes) was printed. An important technical evolution enabled his company to considerably increase its production: the wooden boards were replaced with copper plates, also engraved, but flexible and able to be fixed on cylindrical drums. The company entered the era of mechanisation, and their fashionable design took over the world.

Today Rue Oberkampf is known for its trendy bars and clubs after dark and its many pretty passages and boutiques during the day. The street, which is undergoing a revitalisation project, is very much worth a visit, with a new pedestrianised section between Boulevard Richard-Lenoir and Avenue Parmentier.

From France Today Magazine