Hidden between the vibrant alleys and buzzing streets of Saint-Georges in Paris, lies a place shrouded in intrigue: Square La Bruyère. It’s a small, private cul-de-sac, named after the renowned French philosopher and moralist, Jean de La Bruyère. This tiny alley was once a bustling gymnastic training ground for young military men during the Second Empire. But the gymnastic area was closed and rebuilt as a square named after the philosopher.
What seems like an ordinary path carries whispers of its past, secrets murmured within the confines of its walls. In 1920, the building at No. 3 became the scene of a shocking crime: the murder of Georges Bassarabo, a courier of Romanian origin, by his own wife, Louise Grouès. This woman, a poet and feminist, was known by her pen name, Héla Mirtel. The crime shocked the Parisian public, and the details of the case remain chillingly vivid even today. Louise Grouès was sentenced to 20 years of hard labor.
The apartment at No. 3 is said to have been cursed ever since, with unfortunate events occurring in the years that followed. It is said that a resident committed suicide after being unable to bear the weight of the past. An antique dealer who moved there later experienced inexplicable deterioration and decay of his belongings. Even the apartment’s final resident met a tragic end, dying in a seemingly random act, falling from the window of the apartment. Since then, the apartment has remained vacant.
Square La Bruyère remains a place of quiet contemplation and offers a glimpse into the darker side of Parisian history. It serves as a sobering reminder of the tragedies that have unfolded within its inconspicuous walls. Stepping into this hidden alley and imagining its past allows the echoes of the past to resonate with the present and to truly appreciate the rich history that seeps from the stone and brick.