“A sacred lamp very old” whispered the wind through the narrow Rue des Chandelles. This charming street in Strasbourg’s Gare-Kléber quarter holds a captivating history. Its name itself a mystery. Some say it originated from a pious soul’s lamp outside number 9. Others point to a misunderstanding involving the many furriers who once worked here.
Rue des Chandelles has known many names. Heiligenliehtesgasse in 1305. Under Kursenem from the 12th to the 15th centuries. Its names changed over time reflecting the city’s evolving languages and cultures. French and German names battled for dominance. Rue de la Chandeleur. Rue de la Sainte Chandelle. Lichtergasse. Rue de la Lumière. Finally settling on Rue des Chandelles in 1817.
In the 19th century Rue des Chandelles was picturesque. Old houses lined the street. The area was also a center for prostitution. Numbers 5 10 and 22 were known for their activities. This is a less glamorous side of the Rue des Chandelles. A secret chapter in its history.
The street boasted notable buildings. Number 5. Zum Salmen. The most famous. An inn from the late 16th to early 17th centuries. Its architecture unique. Number 6. Owned by a furrier then a glazier. It was rebuilt in 1773. Sadly demolished in 1919. Number 12. A 16th-century house. It was considered poorly maintained and demolished in 1906. Number 16. Showed the year 1551 on a window. Demolished in 1907. Number 18. An artisan’s house rebuilt in the second half of the 18th century. It too was demolished.
Famous people lived here. François-Xavier Richter. Composer and chapel master of Strasbourg Cathedral. He resided here in 1770. François Haerter. Son of a poor pastry chef on Rue des Chandelles. His exact address remains unknown.
The Rue des Chandelles is more than a street. It is a timeline. Witness to centuries of life. From sacred lamps to furriers. Prostitution to pastries. Demolition to preservation. It whispers tales of Strasbourg’s past. A street steeped in history. A street that waits to be discovered.