Why was Rue de Montmorency named after such a prominent family? This street in Paris is located in the historic Le Marais quarter. It sits in the city’s 3rd arrondissement. Rue de Montmorency runs from Rue du Temple to Rue Saint-Martin.
The street got its name in 1768. It was named after the Montmorency family. The Montmorency family was very important in Le Marais during the Renaissance. They are one of the oldest and most distinguished families in France. The family came from the city of Montmorency. Montmorency is now in the Val-d’Oise department. It is about 9 miles northwest of Paris.
Because the Montmorency were a noble family, the street lost its name during the French Revolution. From the end of the Revolution to 1806, it was called Rue de la Réunion.
Rue de Montmorency is fairly representative of the ancient streets in the heart of Paris.
At number 5 Rue de Montmorency once stood a mansion. Mary Magdalene of Castile and Nicolas Fouquet lived there from 1651 to 1658. She brought a dowry to this large parish. It was located in Saint-Nicolas-des-Champs. The mansion was at the corner of future streets Michel-le-Comte, Temple, and Montmorency. Until 1624, the mansion belonged to the Montmorency family. Anne of Austria nominated Nicolas Fouquet as Superintendent of Finance in 1653. Théophile de Viau also lived there. You can still see a neoclassical fountain in the garden of the current Hôtel Thiroux Lailly.
The porch at number 6 Rue de Montmorency is Louis Philippe style. The Morder family lived there from 1966 to 2006. Joseph Morder became a film director. He is considered the Pope of the Super 8. From 2000 to 2005, the Iranian painter Zohreh Eskandari lived and worked there. The singer Lio also lived there.
Madame de Sévigné lived at number 8 Rue de Montmorency from 1676 to 1677.
At number 10 Rue de Montmorency was a print shop. It was called La ruche ouvrière meaning The working hive. It was founded after the Second World War by Yervant Aprahamiantz. He had a close relationship with the European libertarian scene. He was particularly close with Nestor Makhno and Volin. The print shop was a workers’ cooperative. French, Bulgarian, and Spanish libertarians printed many leaflets, posters, newspapers, pamphlets and books there. A fire destroyed the building in 1980. It was rebuilt later.
Henry Segal lived at number 44 Rue de Montmorency. He died in Slovakia on August 9, 1948. He was working as a volunteer on the Youth Railway Construction Project near Kozelnik village.
At number 51 Rue de Montmorency stands the house of Nicolas Flamel. The house of Nicolas Flamel is at number 52. Flamel built it in 1407. It is the oldest stone house in Paris. The ground floor has always been a tavern. It currently houses the Auberge Nicolas Flamel. Nicolas Flamel was a scrivener and manuscript-seller. He became known as an alchemist. He claimed that he made the philosopher’s stone. The stone turned lead into gold. He also said that he and his wife Pernelle achieved immortality. During recent work on the house, engraved images were found.
On the building’s facade, you can still read an inscription. It says that people living in the house must say a paternostre and an ave maria every day. They should pray to God to forgive poor sinners.
The religious foundation included a gable wall. The wall has since disappeared. The first two floors remain and still have their original decoration. This includes the Gothic inscription, pillars, base moldings, and decorations of angels and columns. The initials NF are engraved on the second and fifth pillars. This is in honor of the founder. The decoration appears to be the work of a funerary engraver from the neighboring cemetery of Saint-Nicolas des Champs.
The house was restored in June 2007. It is now a restaurant. Rue de Montmorency is close to the Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers. It is housed in the medieval priory of Saint-Martin-des-Champs. It is also very close to the Centre Georges Pompidou also known as Beaubourg Museum. Many modern art galleries are on Rue de Montmorency.
The novel Rhum by Blaise Cendrars takes place in a brick foundry located at 14 rue de Montmorency.
As you wander down Rue de Montmorency consider the history beneath your feet. From noble families to revolutionary changes, this street has seen it all. Perhaps you’ll even feel a touch of alchemical magic lingering in the air.