Lost beneath the modern streets lies a tale of tanners and vanished ways. Welcome to the story of Rue de la Tannerie in Paris. This street no longer exists but once thrived in the city. It disappeared in 1854 during the creation of Avenue Victoria.
Imagine Paris before grand boulevards. The Rue de la Tannerie was a vital artery. It pulsed with the industry of its namesake. Tanners lived and worked here. They chose this location for its proximity to the Seine. Water was essential for their craft.
Let’s journey back to the 1300s. The street was already known as Rue de la Tannerie. Guillot de Paris even mentioned it as “rue de la Tanerie”. Time brought changes. The street was briefly known as “ruelle de la Planche-aux-Teinturiers”. It also bore the name “rue de l’Écorcherie”. Butchers briefly occupied it giving it that name. Eventually, “Rue de la Tannerie” stuck.
By 1642, tanners still worked there. Documents show the presence of “courroyeurs” and a tanner. These craftsmen were vital to the city’s economy. Yet, their presence wasn’t always welcome.
King Louis XIV had other plans. In 1673, he ordered the tanners out. He also expelled the dyers and tawers. They were forced to relocate to the Saint-Marcel and Chaillot districts. The king wanted them away from the city center. A royal decree formalized this expulsion. It aimed to improve the city’s cleanliness. However, the craftsmen retained their privileges. They remained bourgeois of Paris.
The Rue de la Tannerie wasn’t just about tanning. It also housed a prison. This prison belonged to the provost of merchants. It was tiny. Imagine a space only eleven feet long and four feet wide.
Over time, the street’s dimensions were adjusted. A ministerial decision in the year VIII set its width at 8 meters. Later, a royal ordinance increased it to 10 meters. Change was constant in Paris.
The final chapter for Rue de la Tannerie came in 1854. Napoleon III transformed Paris. The construction of Avenue Victoria erased the street. Other streets vanished too. The Rue de la Vannerie and Rue des Teinturiers also disappeared.
Today, no cobblestones mark its existence. The sounds of tanners are gone. The smells of the trade have faded. Yet, the name lingers in historical records. It reminds us of a different Paris. A Paris of craftsmen, of small streets and royal decrees.
So, as you walk along Avenue Victoria remember what lies beneath. Think of the tanners. Consider their impact on the city. The Rue de la Tannerie may be gone but its story remains. It is a quiet echo in the grand avenues of Paris.