Rue du Général Foy

Cobblestones whisper tales of ambition and eloquence on Rue du Général Foy. Here, in the heart of Paris’ 8th arrondissement, the spirit of General Maximilien Sébastien Foy still lingers. Rue du Général Foy stretches elegantly from Rue de la Bienfaisance to Rue de Monceau. It’s a street named after a man whose words resonated through the French chambers, a key figure in the liberal opposition during the Bourbon Restoration. Before 1848, Rue du Général Foy was known as Rue de Malesherbes. Its creation in 1840 was part of a grand vision for this elegant district. It was meant to compensate for the delayed completion of Boulevard Malesherbes. This boulevard was intended to connect Place de la Madeleine to the Monceau barrier. The portion beyond Rue de la Bienfaisance was slow to materialize, leading to the birth of our Rue du Général Foy. Imagine strolling down this street in 1885, the sweet aroma of confections wafting from number 4, then occupied by the confectioner Reber. Later, number 16 became home to the renowned Comédie-Française actress Julia Bartet, a plaque commemorating her presence. Other notable residents graced Rue du Général Foy, including composers, writers, and politicians. Jules Massenet, the celebrated composer, resided at both number 8 and number 46, composing some of his masterpieces within these walls. Victorien Sardou, the playwright, called number 37 home. Number 40, once a vibrant social hub, housed the salon of Laure Baignères, known for her wit. Some whisper that her salon inspired Édouard Pailleron’s play, “Le Monde où l’on s’ennuie” (The World Where One is Bored). Rue du Général Foy also holds darker secrets. Some claim number 23 once housed a brothel. The lycée Fénelon Sainte-Marie at number 24 and the former parish works of Saint-Augustin at numbers 26-28, now Collège Octave-Gréard, add to the street’s rich tapestry. Rue du Général Foy isn’t just a street; it’s a microcosm of Parisian life, a blend of elegance, artistry, and whispered secrets, all under the watchful gaze of the General himself.