“Jazz me, blues me,” Bernard Lavilliers sang. He was searching for a blues feeling on Rue des Lombards. Today, let’s dive into the vibrant history of Rue des Lombards. This street is a historic hub in Paris. It is known for its rich past and lively present.
Rue des Lombards is located in the 1st and 4th arrondissements of Paris. This puts it between Rue de Rivoli and the Centre Pompidou. It stretches from the Halles district to the Marais. This location makes it one of the city’s oldest and most animated streets.
The street’s name comes from Lombard merchants and bankers. They settled here in the 13th century. These Italian traders dominated banking in medieval Paris. From the 12th century onward, they were simply known as Lombards.
Originally, Rue des Lombards was part of an east-west axis. This axis included Rue de la Verrerie and Rue du Roi-de-Sicile. This route existed before Philippe-Auguste’s wall was built around 1200. It branched off from Rue Saint-Antoine. This makes Rue des Lombards one of the oldest streets in Paris. It sits within the first enclosure on the Right Bank. This dates back to the 10th or 11th century.
By 1250, the street was fully built. In 1300, it was called Rue de la Buffeterie. The name came from “buffetier,” meaning wine merchant in old French.
The name changed in 1322. That’s when the Lombard merchants, bankers, and moneylenders moved in. The Tolomei family was among them. Lombards became known for their business sense. The term became synonymous with “usurer.”
From 1612 to 1636, it was known as Rue de la Pourpointerie. Pourpointiers made pourpoints. These were padded garments worn by men.
In 1702, the street had 61 houses and 10 lanterns. It was part of the Saint-Jacques-de-la-Boucherie district. In 1877, Rue de l’Aiguillerie was annexed to Rue des Lombards.
Rue des Lombards has been a center of Parisian life for centuries. It is home to several famous jazz clubs. Le Baiser Salé, Le Duc des Lombards, and the Sunset/Sunside are all here. These venues have made the street a hotspot for jazz music.
Today, Rue des Lombards remains a vibrant part of Paris. It is known for its diverse nightlife. You can find all sorts of bars here. There are gay bars, hard rock and metal venues, and Anglo-Saxon pubs. You’ll also find Auvergnat bistros and shisha bars.
The street is easily accessible by Metro. Lines 1, 4, 7, 11, and 14 stop at Châtelet station. Lines 1 and 11 serve Hôtel de Ville station. The RER also stops at Châtelet-Les Halles.
But there’s more to Rue des Lombards than just nightlife. Number 14 holds a secret. Beneath it lies a medieval cellar and chapel. The Knights Templar built it in the 13th century. It was a site for financial and commercial exchanges. It also hid Ravaillac before he killed Henri IV. During the Revolution, it was a secret gathering place for clergy.
From jazz to secrets, Rue des Lombards is a microcosm of Parisian history. It’s a place where the past and present meet. A place where every corner has a story to tell. So next time you find yourself on Rue des Lombards. Remember the merchants, the music and the mysteries that lie beneath.