The ghosts of revolutionaries whisper secrets along Rue Beranger. This Parisian street holds a captivating past. It’s a place where history echoes in the very stones underfoot.
Rue Beranger is in the 3rd arrondissement of Paris. It’s near the Place de la Republique. The street’s name honors the famous French songwriter Pierre-Jean de Beranger. He lived and died at number 5. That was when the street was still called Rue de Vendome.
Rue Beranger’s history goes back to 1694 and 1696. It was built on land once owned by the Knights Templar. This area was surprisingly undeveloped for its time. The street’s original name Rue de Vendome celebrated Philippe de Vendome. He was a leader of the Knights Hospitaller. The street got its current name much later in 1864. Passage Vendome links Rue Beranger to the Place de la Republique. It kept its older name.
World War I left its mark. A shell from the infamous Grosse Bertha exploded at number 15 in 1918. A devastating accident occurred in 1878 at number 22. A toy store exploded. Fifteen people died. Eighteen were injured. Two houses were destroyed. The explosion was caused by mercury fulminate intended for children’s toy guns.
Many notable buildings stand along Rue Beranger. The Hotel Fargès also called Hotel de Mascrani is at number 2. It housed the Food Administration during the French Revolution. Numbers 3 and 5 were once two hotels. They are now the Ecole Primaire Beranger and the College Pierre-Jean-de-Beranger. The actor Frederick Lemaitre lived at number 10. Number 11 held the Hotel Berthier de Sauvigny. It became the town hall of the old 6th arrondissement. The building was demolished. A parking garage replaced it. Later the top floors became offices for the newspaper Liberation.
Number 14 was once the location of a Jeu de Paume. This is an ancestor of tennis. It belonged to the Comte d’Artois. It was demolished in the mid-19th century. The Theatre Dezajat was built in 1851. Its entrance is at number 41 Boulevard du Temple. Number 16 held the Convent of the Filles-du-Sauveur. It was founded in 1701. It helped repentant women. The convent buildings were sold during the French Revolution.
Rue Beranger appears in Honoré de Balzac’s novel Illusions Perdues. Coralie and Lucien de Rubempré lived there. They later moved to a cheaper apartment. This street’s history is rich with stories of revolution upheaval and everyday life. Rue Beranger is more than a street. It is a living testament to the enduring spirit of Paris.