“Why is this street named Tronson-du-Coudray?” someone asks. That is an excellent question. Rue Tronson-du-Coudray is located in the 8th arrondissement of Paris. This street has a story to tell.
Rue Tronson-du-Coudray runs between Rue Pasquier and Rue d’Anjou. It is a relatively short street only 81 meters long and 10 meters wide. The street’s history and namesake are quite interesting.
Originally, this street was called Rue Notre-Dame de Grâce. This was after a convent of the same name that was located here. The street got its current name in 1867.
It was named in honor of Guillaume Alexandre Tronson du Coudray. He was one of the lawyers who defended Queen Marie Antoinette during the French Revolution. Tronson du Coudray was born in 1750 and died in 1798.
The story of Rue Tronson-du-Coudray involves a notorious crime. At number 3 on this street, a gruesome murder took place. Michel Eyraud and Gabrielle Bompart killed bailiff Toussaint-Auguste Gouffé. This crime became one of the most publicized criminal cases in late 19th-century France. Eyraud and Bompart were eventually caught and brought to justice.
The street is served by line 9 at the Saint-Augustin station. Rue Tronson-du-Coudray is a reminder of both legal defense and dark crime. So next time you are in the 8th arrondissement take a stroll down Rue Tronson-du-Coudray.