What if these cobblestones could talk? The Rue des Martyrs de Châteaubriant has stories etched into its very fabric. This street in the 9th arrondissement is more than just a road. It is a journey through time.
Its origins go way back. Think Gallo-Roman times. The Rue des Martyrs was once a path winding up Mons Mercuri. That is now known as Montmartre.
Fast forward to the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Vast estates began to form here. These estates had grand gardens. Their layouts still influence property lines today. The street starts where Montmartre’s slope becomes very steep. This unique topography shapes the Rue des Martyrs.
Its winding path adds to its charm. It boldly climbs the hill. The curves create open views. Buildings vary in height. The Sacré-Cœur’s dome and spires appear and disappear depending on where you stand. Notre-Dame-de-Lorette’s apse offers a shifted perspective as you descend. These elements create a fantastic feeling as you walk along the Rue des Martyrs.
Commerce defines the Rue des Martyrs. Businesses have thrived here for almost three centuries.
In the 3rd century Saint Denis was killed. Saint Eleuthère and Saint Rustique also died. They were executed atop Montmartre. It was then called Mont des Martyrs. In the 11th century the road to their execution site became known as the Chemin des Martyrs. That name has stuck ever since. Until the end of the Ancien Régime the Rue des Martyrs was part of the Porcherons village. It fell under Montmartre Abbey’s feudal power.
During the 18th century the Rue des Martyrs was outside Paris. Paris ended at the Grands Boulevards. Being in a suburb meant it wasn’t subject to wine and alcohol taxes. Guinguettes which are open-air cafes sprung up. The wine came from vineyards behind the street. In 1787 twenty-five of the street’s fifty-eight houses were taverns. In 1784 the area became part of Paris. The Revolution soon followed. This marked the end for the Rue des Martyrs’ guinguettes. They moved to new suburbs.
The Rue des Martyrs also attracted landowners. Some nobles moved here for romantic reasons. Mansions were built for mistresses. These women were often dancers from the Opéra or theater.
The arts also flourished on the Rue des Martyrs. Count d’Albaret a music lover hosted society theaters for over twenty years. Eight to ten musicians lived there permanently. They gave a concert every Sunday morning.
One prominent figure left his mark on the Rue des Martyrs in the 18th century. Chrétien Guillaume de Lamoignon de Malesherbes was a Minister of State. He protected Enlightenment philosophers. From 1778 until his death in 1794 he lived in a hôtel at the current Cité Malesherbes location.
Malesherbes hosted Benjamin Franklin there. Franklin was the Ambassador of the new America. John Adams and Thomas Jefferson followed. The Hôtel Malesherbes also hosted early meetings of Montmartre’s new municipality between 1788 and 1789.
The 19th century brought urbanization. Large gardens disappeared. Apartment buildings rose in their place. The Rue des Martyrs was near the Nouvelle Athènes artistic center. It attracted painters writers musicians and actors. Théodore Géricault is the most famous personality. He lived at number 23 now number 19 from 1813 until his death in 1824.
He created The Raft of the Medusa while living here.
Today the Rue des Martyrs remains the heart of the 9th arrondissement. It is a testament to enduring commerce. It has evolved from the guinguettes of the Ancien Régime to today’s trendy shops.