“A street of echoes” I would say. Rue Caubert de Cléry whispers stories of Paris’s past. It is a street that has witnessed centuries of change. It is nestled in the 2nd arrondissement. The Rue Caubert de Cléry awaits us.
The street’s origins trace back to the 17th century. It began as a path alongside the city’s moat. This moat ran alongside the Charles V enclosure. The path connected Porte Montmartre to Porte Saint-Denis. This thoroughfare eventually extended. It became the Rue du Mail heading toward Porte Saint-Honoré.
Initially, the street was known as Chemin des Gravois. This translates to “path of gravel.” The eastern part near Rue Poissonnière even acquired another name. It was briefly called Rue Mouffetard. This was due to the unpleasant odors emanating from waste.
The street’s current name honors the Hôtel de Cléry. References to this establishment appear as early as 1540. Its grounds once stretched to the city’s outer defenses.
Rue de Cléry is about 600 meters long. It has a width of 10.7 meters. Metro stations provide easy access to the street. These include Bonne-Nouvelle Strasbourg Saint-Denis and Sentier.
Several notable figures have called Rue de Cléry home. Pierre Corneille lived here from 1665 to 1681. He later moved to Rue d’Argenteuil where he died. Admiral de Vence also resided on this street. Philippe de Cuisy a tax collector lived here too. Henri-Joseph Thüring de Ryss a general and playwright lived here in 1794.
At number 29 Jacques Necker once lived. From 1766 to 1789 he occupied the Hôtel Le Blanc. His wife Suzanne Curchod hosted a renowned literary salon. Their daughter Madame de Staël was born at this address in 1766.
Number 97 is home to a unique structure. The poet André Chénier lived here. It is considered one of the narrowest residential buildings in Paris. A plaque on the facade marks it as “Pointe Trigano.”
The building at numbers 19-21 has a rich history. Robert Poquelin a priest owned a mansion here in the 17th century. In 1700 he donated it to Louis de Lubert. Lubert converted it into apartments. Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun moved here in 1775. She met her future husband Pierre Le Brun here. They expanded the property. They added a gallery with a cupola. During the Revolution the Le Brun gallery became a venue for weddings. It also became a concert hall. Unfortunately no trace of it remains today.
Even today Rue de Cléry retains its charm. It offers a glimpse into Parisian history and culture. So take a stroll and listen closely. The stones themselves whisper stories of times gone by.