Deep in the heart of the 1st arrondissement, a curious name echoes: Impasse des Trois Visages. Today, we stand before a gated entrance at 20-22 Rue des Bourdonnais. It is a silent sentinel guarding secrets of old Paris.
Impasse des Trois Visages translates to “Dead End of the Three Faces”. Its story is etched in the very stones beneath our feet. This narrow passage was once a bustling street. It connected Rue Bertin-Poirée to Rue Thibault-aux-Dez.
Let’s journey back through time. Imagine Paris in the 1300s. This street was then known as Rue Jean-l’Eveiller. By 1315, its name had morphed into Rue Jean-l’Esguiliier. Names evolved like whispers on the wind. It became Rue Jean-le-Goulier and then Rue Jean-Golier. Legend says this last name came from a man named Jean Golier. He owned a house bordering the street in 1245.
By 1492, the street acquired a new moniker. It was called Rue au Goulier, dite du Renard or Fox Street. This name hinted at the cunning and shadows that might have danced here. The name was later simplified to Rue du Renard.
Then in 1782, the street transformed again. It became Rue des Trois-Visages. This name stuck because of three sculpted heads. These heads adorned the corner of a building. The Impasse des Trois Visages got its name from these faces.
Just before the French Revolution, in 1789, a change occurred. The street was blocked by two gates in the early 18th century. It was then transformed into a dead end. It became known as Cul-de-sac des Trois-Visages. This translates to Dead End of the Three Faces. The space became a storage area for neighboring houses.
Even the great Guillot de Paris mentioned this place. In his poem, Le Dit des rues de Paris, he calls it Rue Jehan l’Éveillier. He noted the residence of Perriaus Goullier there. Later, number 14 became home to artists. The painter Noël Hallé lived here. Later his son Jean-Noël Hallé, a physician, also resided here.
Today, the Impasse des Trois Visages is a private lane. The street is only 18 meters long and 2 meters wide. It is closed off by a gate. Though changed, it still whispers tales of Old Paris. It reminds us that even dead ends can have fascinating histories. The Impasse des Trois Visages is a silent witness. It observed centuries of Parisian life. It has retained its secrets behind its iron gate.