Imagine royalty once strolled where we now stand on Rue de la Savoie. This Parisian street whispers tales of dukes, duchesses, and intellectual giants. Let’s explore its captivating past.
Rue de la Savoie is a short street only 104 meters long. It sits in Paris’s 6th arrondissement between Rue Sèguier and Rue des Grands-Augustins. Its story begins in 1670.
The street owes its name to the former Hôtel des Ducs de Savoie. This translates to the Hotel of the Dukes of Savoy. Before that, the Hôtel d’Hercule stood on part of the same site. Murals depicting Hercules’s labors adorned that earlier building.
Anne d’Este lived in the Hôtel des Ducs de Savoie for 40 years. She was the mother of Balafré. Anne was first the widow of François, Duke of Guise. Then she became the widow of Jacques de Savoie, Duke of Nemours.
In 1670, the Duchesse de Savoie sold the hotel to a real estate company. They promptly built Rue de la Savoie through the land. Houses 2 and 4 of today’s Rue de la Savoie were once part of that Hôtel de Savoie.
The region of Savoie became part of France in 1860. This happened after the Franco-Italian war against Austria. An author recalls passing through Rue de Savoie that evening. The street was decorated and illuminated celebrating the annexation.
Sophie Germain died at number 13 Rue de la Savoie in 1831. She was a philosopher and mathematician. Germain anticipated principles used in the telephone. She published a celebrated work in 1816. It was titled “Memoir on the vibrations of elastic surfaces”.
For many years, the Société de Géographie Commerciale was located on Rue de Savoie. It moved later to Rue de Tournon. Mademoiselle Cora de Laparcerie once lived on this street. She was a dramatic actress of the Odéon.
The street has housed princes of science and intellectuals. Despite its calm and quiet ambiance, Rue de la Savoie has a rich history. It offers a peaceful retreat for thinkers near the Latin Quarter. Though short, Rue de Savoie holds a significant place in Parisian history. It connects the city to the Savoie region in a unique way. This little street is far from ordinary.