Once upon a time, public executions took place near the Croix-du-Trahoir. Today, this intersection is one of the nicest parts of Paris. We’re standing at the corner of rue Saint-Honoré and rue de l’Arbre-Sec. This is where the Croix-du-Trahoir fountain stands. It is a witness to public executions. It also saw other atrocities committed from the Middle Ages until the 18th century.
The Croix-du-Trahoir fountain has stood here since the Middle Ages. This is a very important intersection in Paris. The fountain gets its name from fabrics. These fabrics were pulled out on its steps. The French word ‘tiroir’ became ‘trahoir’.
Jean Goujon designed a fountain in 1529. King François I initiated this project. It was rebuilt in 1606. In 1636, the fountain was moved. They moved it from the center of the crossroads to the side. This improved traffic on the rue Saint-Honoré.
The current fountain dates back to 1775. It adjoins the wall of a building. Architect Jacques-Germain Soufflot raised the building in 1776. It was formerly occupied by the Consulate of Andorra.
The square witnessed public executions until 1698. Counterfeiters were boiled here. Lutherans were burnt at the stake in 1535. Unworthy servants had their ears cut off until 1739.
An ancient calvary cross stood next to the fountain. The condemned made their final prayers here. Butchers and greengrocers used its stone foundations. They displayed their produce. The calvary cross was destroyed during the French Revolution in 1789.
The Croix-du-Trahoir fountain bears a Latin inscription. It translates to: Louis XVI, in the first year of his reign, commands to act on behalf of the common good. The water tower of Julian’s arch, now dilapidated and in a bad state, be completely re-edified more elegantly by Charles Claude d’Angiviller superintendent of the King’s Buildings.
Victor Hugo mentioned the Croix-du-Trahoir in “The Hunchback of Notre-Dame”. In 1610, King Henri IV passed by the fountain. This was minutes before his assassination on rue de la Ferronnerie. François Ravaillac assassinated him. The French State listed the fountain as a historic monument in 1925. The Croix-du-Trahoir stands as a reminder. It reminds us of Paris’s past. It serves as a testament to its resilience. It also shows its continuous evolution.