Does the name Rue de la Folie-Méricourt evoke images of madness and mayhem? Actually, the street’s history is far more grounded. Let’s explore this intriguing street in Paris’s 11th arrondissement.
Rue de la Folie-Méricourt owes its name to a property owner named Marcaut. Over time, Marcaut became Moricaud, and finally, Méricourt. He owned a “folie” here. In this context, “folie” means a country house.
Before 1652, this street was the main road of the Popincourt hamlet. An old map from that time even shows it. Originally, Rue de la Folie-Méricourt was longer. It stretched to Rue de Ménilmontant. Beyond that, it continued as Rue Popincourt, Rue Bas-Froid, and Rue Saint-Bernard.
The street’s current name came about on April 2, 1868. It was formed by combining a section of Rue Popincourt and Rue de la Folie-Marcaut. The portion of Rue Popincourt ran between Rue Saint-Ambroise and Rue Oberkampf. It had previously been known as Rue du Bas-Pincourt and Rue Pincourt. Rue de la Folie-Marcaut stretched from Rue Oberkampf to Rue du Faubourg-du-Temple. It went by several names including Rue de la Folie-Mauricaut and Rue de la Folie-Moricourt.
Urban development of Rue de la Folie-Méricourt picked up around the 1780s. This coincided with the development of the Nouvelle Ville d’Angoulême.
Number 10 Rue de la Folie-Méricourt, near Rue Pasteur, was once the site of the Popincourt barracks. Built in 1770, it housed French guards. The barracks occupied part of the Convent of the Annonciades.
At number 22, you’ll find a series of courtyards. An arcade passes through the buildings. In 1689, Nicolas de Blégny, a surgeon, apothecary, and chemist, opened a clinic here. His clinic had a medicinal garden. He treated tumors, gout, and asthma. Blégny also wrote extensively about the therapeutic benefits of tea, coffee, and chocolate. The paved floor helped to dampen the noise of carts transporting patients.
Number 32 was the home of Éditions du Triangle rose from 1979. They managed the magazine “Le Gai Pied”. At number 69, a mural painted by Arnaud Liard was restored in September 2024. A plaque at number 96 commemorates Charles Wolmark. He was a member of the resistance. The Nazis executed him.
Rue de la Folie-Méricourt also appears in literature. Pierre Gripari published a collection of stories called “Les Contes de la Folie Méricourt” in 1983. The book features a witch who moves to Rue de la Folie-Méricourt. She hopes for a quieter life, but the local children demand more stories from her.
In recent years, there have been efforts to improve the street. A project aimed to reduce traffic and make the area safer. This shows the ongoing commitment to enhancing the quality of life on Rue de la Folie-Méricourt.