il fut un temps où

there was a time when

→ il

phrase Rare #42,475

there was a time when Literary or formal-sounding past tense expression used to talk about a time in the past.

FR: Il fut un temps où nous vivions près de la mer.

EN: There was a time when we lived near the sea.

There was a time when I couldn't trust others.

There was a time when the king lived in this palace.

There was a time when reptiles ruled the world.

There was a time when Saruman used to walk in my forests.

— Le Seigneur des anneaux : Les Deux Tours (2002)