Faubourg
Encyclopedia
Faubourg is an ancient French
term approximating "suburb
" (now generally termed banlieue
). The earliest form is Forsbourg, derived from Latin
foris, 'out of', and Vulgar Latin
(originally Germanic) burgum, 'town' or 'fortress'. Traditionally, this name was given to an agglomeration forming around a throughway leading outwards from a city gate, and usually took the name of the same thoroughfare within the city. As cities were often located atop hills (for defensive purposes), their outlying communities were frequently lower down. Many faubourgs were located below their towns, and the term "suburbs" is derived from this tendency (sub = below; urbs = city).
Faubourgs are often considered the predecessor of European suburbs, from which they evolved generally in the 1950s and 60s. Although early suburbs still conserved some characteristics related to faubourgs (such as the back alleys with doors, little break margins for houses, etc.), later suburbs underwent major changes in their construction, primarily in terms of residential density.
Beside many French cities, the places faubourgs can still be found outside Europe include the province of Quebec
, in Canada and the city of New Orleans, Louisiana
. The cities of Quebec and Montreal contain examples, although Montreal has far greater divergences in terms of "banlieue", which lead to similarities of many Ontarian
and America
n suburbs.
Many Parisian streets have retained their ancient denomination in spite of city growth; today it is still possible to discern pre-1860 delimitations in Paris by marking the point where a thoroughfare's name changes from rue to rue du faubourg. For instance, the rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis used to be located outside of the city wall and was an extension of the rue Saint-Denis
within the walls. The rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré
came about in a similar manner.
beyond the original city plan, when French was still a common language in the colonial city, even though in terms of characteristics, real faubourgs never existed in the city. Faubourg Tremé
and Faubourg Marigny
, two of the oldest neighborhoods outside of the French Quarter
, are persistent examples. Another early example was Faubourg St. Mary, a commercial district, which developed into the modern Central Business District
.
, as the suburb now refers to the North
and South Shore
s. However, placenames like le Faubourg St-Laurent is still occasionally used to refer to the sections of Ville-Marie
.
Furthermore, the term des faubourgs de Montréal ("the Montreal suburbs") is preserved in some placenames within the city proper, such as the various annexes (branches) of the École des Métiers
des Faubourgs-de-Montréal. There was also a Caisse
des Faubourgs de Montréal in The Village
, which in 2003 was closed down .
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
term approximating "suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
" (now generally termed banlieue
Banlieue
In francophone areas, banlieues are the "outskirts" of a city: the zone around a city that is under the city's rule.Banlieues are translated as "suburbs", as these are also residential areas on the outer edge of a city, but the connotations of the term "banlieue" in France can be different from...
). The earliest form is Forsbourg, derived from Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
foris, 'out of', and Vulgar Latin
Vulgar Latin
Vulgar Latin is any of the nonstandard forms of Latin from which the Romance languages developed. Because of its nonstandard nature, it had no official orthography. All written works used Classical Latin, with very few exceptions...
(originally Germanic) burgum, 'town' or 'fortress'. Traditionally, this name was given to an agglomeration forming around a throughway leading outwards from a city gate, and usually took the name of the same thoroughfare within the city. As cities were often located atop hills (for defensive purposes), their outlying communities were frequently lower down. Many faubourgs were located below their towns, and the term "suburbs" is derived from this tendency (sub = below; urbs = city).
Faubourgs are often considered the predecessor of European suburbs, from which they evolved generally in the 1950s and 60s. Although early suburbs still conserved some characteristics related to faubourgs (such as the back alleys with doors, little break margins for houses, etc.), later suburbs underwent major changes in their construction, primarily in terms of residential density.
Beside many French cities, the places faubourgs can still be found outside Europe include the province of Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, in Canada and the city of New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
. The cities of Quebec and Montreal contain examples, although Montreal has far greater divergences in terms of "banlieue", which lead to similarities of many Ontarian
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
and America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
n suburbs.
Paris
Faubourgs were prominent in Paris during the first industrialization efforts of the early 19th century. The southern part of the Seine was an early expansion out of the city when the fortifications were demolished and relied heavily on horse trams. The Haussmannian Paris erased many traces of ancient faubourgs and the term banlieue was then coined.Many Parisian streets have retained their ancient denomination in spite of city growth; today it is still possible to discern pre-1860 delimitations in Paris by marking the point where a thoroughfare's name changes from rue to rue du faubourg. For instance, the rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis used to be located outside of the city wall and was an extension of the rue Saint-Denis
Rue Saint-Denis
Rue Saint-Denis may refer to:*Rue Saint-Denis , Montreal*Rue Saint-Denis , Paris...
within the walls. The rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré
Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré
The rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré is a street in Paris, France. Although relatively narrow and nondescript , it is cited as being one of the most fashionable streets in the world, thanks to the presence of virtually every major global fashion house...
came about in a similar manner.
New Orleans
The term was also used in the early expansion of New OrleansNew Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
beyond the original city plan, when French was still a common language in the colonial city, even though in terms of characteristics, real faubourgs never existed in the city. Faubourg Tremé
Treme
Tremé is a neighborhood of the city of New Orleans. A subdistrict of the Mid-City District Area, its boundaries as defined by the City Planning Commission are Esplanade Avenue to the north, North Rampart Street to the east, St. Louis Street to the south and North Broad Street to the west...
and Faubourg Marigny
Faubourg Marigny
The Marigny is a neighborhood of the city of New Orleans. A subdistrict of the Bywater District Area, its boundaries as defined by the City Planning Commission are: North Rampart Street and St...
, two of the oldest neighborhoods outside of the French Quarter
French Quarter
The French Quarter, also known as Vieux Carré, is the oldest neighborhood in the city of New Orleans. When New Orleans was founded in 1718 by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, the city was originally centered on the French Quarter, or the Vieux Carré as it was known then...
, are persistent examples. Another early example was Faubourg St. Mary, a commercial district, which developed into the modern Central Business District
New Orleans Central Business District
The Central Business District is a neighborhood of the city of New Orleans. A subdistrict of the French Quarter/CBD Area, its boundaries as defined by the City Planning Commission are: Iberville, Decatur and Canal Streets to the north, the Mississippi River to the east, the New Orleans Morial...
.
Montreal
Greater Montreal no longer has any actual faubourgs on the main islandIsland of Montreal
The Island of Montreal , in extreme southwestern Quebec, Canada, is located at the confluence of the Saint Lawrence and Ottawa Rivers. It is separated from Île Jésus by the Rivière des Prairies....
, as the suburb now refers to the North
North Shore (Laval)
The North Shore is the general term for the northern suburbs of Montreal. The North Shore is located in southwestern Quebec on the northern shores of the Rivière des Prairies and the Rivière des Mille Îles, opposite the Island of Montreal and the Island of Laval. It consists of twenty...
and South Shore
South Shore (Montreal)
The South Shore is the general term for the suburbs of Montreal, Quebec located on the southern shore of the Saint Lawrence River opposite the Island of Montreal. The South Shore is located within the Quebec administrative region of Montérégie....
s. However, placenames like le Faubourg St-Laurent is still occasionally used to refer to the sections of Ville-Marie
Ville-Marie (borough)
Ville-Marie is the name of a borough in the centre of the city of Montreal, Quebec.-Location:The borough comprises all of downtown Montreal, Old Montreal and the Old Port, the Centre-Sud area, most of Mount Royal Park, Saint Helen's Island, and Île Notre-Dame.It is bordered by the city of...
.
Furthermore, the term des faubourgs de Montréal ("the Montreal suburbs") is preserved in some placenames within the city proper, such as the various annexes (branches) of the École des Métiers
Vocational school
A vocational school , providing vocational education, is a school in which students are taught the skills needed to perform a particular job...
des Faubourgs-de-Montréal. There was also a Caisse
Credit union
A credit union is a cooperative financial institution that is owned and controlled by its members and operated for the purpose of promoting thrift, providing credit at competitive rates, and providing other financial services to its members...
des Faubourgs de Montréal in The Village
Gay Village, Montreal
Montreal's Gay Village is located on Saint Catherine Street East, centred on Beaudry metro station, and on Amherst Street in the Ville-Marie borough of the city...
, which in 2003 was closed down .