Quartier de l’Horloge
The Horloge district is located north of the Pompidou Centre and is encompassed within the Rue Saint-Martin, the Rue Rambuteau, the Rue du Grenier-Saint-Lazare and the Rue Beaubourg.
Developed in the 1970s, this area is primarily pedestrianised.
Its layout is reminiscent of the old district, with six- and seven-story buildings connected by narrow alleyways, vaulted passages, and small inner courtyards.
Along these alleyways, you can find a variety of local shops, restaurants (burgers and pizzas) and bookstores at affordable prices.
Symbolic gates connect the Quartier de l’Horloge to the surrounding streets, giving this area the atmosphere of a village in the heart of the city.
Le Défenseur du Temps – Clock
The Quartier de l’Horloge owes its name to Le Défenseur du Temps (The Time Keeper), a 4-m-tall clock animated metal clock weighing one ton and created by the artist Jacques Monestier. Located at No. 8 Rue Bernard de Clairvaux, this clock was inaugurated by the Mayor of Paris, Jacques Chirac, on October 8, 1979.
In 1995, a radio-controlled clock and CD players replaced the original quartz system and tape recorders, improving the clock’s technological capabilities. However, it ceased to function on July 1, 2003 due to a lack of funding for its maintenance. Before it stopped, visitors to the area could witness a fascinating spectacle.
Every hour, a life-size sculpture of a man, armed with a sword and shield, perched on a rock, engaged in combat against a dragon, a bird and a crab, symbolising the elements Fire, Air and Water.
Three strokes marked each hour, and every hour between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m., the man faced one of three animals, chosen randomly by the programmer. Special performances took place at noon, 6 p.m. and 10 p.m., during which the man fought the three creatures at once. These shows were accompanied by sound effects imitating waves, the rumbling of the earth, and the crackling of fire. His sculptures are made of hammered brass and gold leaf, while the oxidised brass base evokes a rock.
Directions: 3rd district
Metro: Rambuteau on Line 11
Coordinates clock: Lat 48.862002 – Long 2.352732
