Marvelous Rue des Barres isn’t it? Picture this charming pedestrian street. It whispers tales of medieval Paris. Nestled near the Pont-Marie in the Marais its medieval character is captivating.
Rue des Barres a historic street in the 4th arrondissement has a long and fascinating past. It dates back to the 17th century. The street’s name comes from the Lieu-dit des Barres. This small area was once home to the Moulins des Barres. These windmills belonged to the Knights Templar. They were used for grinding grain. Imagine the sounds of the millstones. Hear the wind whistling through the sails.
Rue des Barres is close to other significant landmarks. The Rue Saint-Antoine and the Rue Malivaux are nearby. So is the H^otel de Ville Paris’s city hall. These places contribute to the Marais’s rich history and cultural heritage. Other windmills were located near Rue des Barres. Those in the Ruelle des Moulins du Temple are also remnants of the area’s past. They stand as testaments to the area’s rich history and the city’s cultural legacy.
A map from 1550 shows Rue des Barres. It’s depicted between Rue de La Mortellerie now Rue de l’H^otel de Ville and La Porte Bodes now Rue Fran^cois Miron. Note that north is to the left on that old map. The map shows the Moulin des Barres on the Seine. Two islands are also visible. These would later be joined to form ^ile Saint-Louis in 1614.
In 1250 a mansion called H^otel des Barres was built on Rue des Barres. This mansion was later purchased by Louis de Boisredon. He was captain of the Queen’s Bodyguards. He was also Queen Isabeau’s lover. In April 1417 Louis failed to properly salute King Charles VI. Charles had Louis arrested. He was sewn into a bag and thrown into the Seine. The bag was marked “Laissez passer la justice du Roi” Let the King’s justice pass.
Rue des Barres today is a pedestrian passageway. It runs from the Seine at Pont Louis-Philippe. It ends at Rue Fran^cois Miron in the Marais. At its Seine end it’s next to Caf^e Louis Philippe. A tall building houses Chez Julien another restaurant. Wide shallow steps lead into the Marais.
As you climb the steps you’ll see ^Eglise Saint-Gervais-et-Saint-Protais. A church has stood here since the 7th century. The current church was built over 150 years ending around 1650. Sadly a German shell landed on the church during a Good Friday service in 1918. Eighty-eight people died dozens were wounded.
Further along the street you’ll find historic buildings. Number 12 dates from the time of an abbey. This was the nuns’ home rebuilt in 1540 in half-timbered style. Number 15 is a house from 1624. The Rue des Barres truly embodies the layers of history in the Marais. It’s a captivating journey through time.