“Why four?” you might ask. That’s the question many Parisians pondered centuries ago. We’re standing on the Rue du Four in the heart of the 6th arrondissement. Its name a testament to a humble yet historically significant communal oven. This wasn’t just any oven. This was the four banal of the Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Imagine its smoky aroma wafting down this very street for centuries. In the 13th century this humble oven dictated life for the locals. By order of King Louis XI everyone in the area was required to bake their bread here.
Rue du Four wasn’t always the paved street we see today. In 1551 it was unpaved and muddy. The residents complained to the provost of Paris about this condition. The provost ordered the monks of Saint-Germain-des-Prés to pave the street at their own expense. Talk about a royal inconvenience.
The street’s width has evolved over time too. In 1799 Napoleon’s brother Lucien Bonaparte decreed a minimum width of 10 meters. Later an 1843 royal ordinance expanded it to 13 meters. Some properties along the Rue du Four were exempt from this expansion. It’s fascinating to imagine the negotiation that must have taken place to achieve this.
Now consider this street’s role in more modern history. In 1848 at number 40 François-Vincent Raspail published his newspaper L’Ami du Peuple. The People’s Friend played a part in the revolution of that year. Then in 1883 a rebellious march led by Louise Michel ended on this very street. Bread was stolen during the demonstration. Michel was imprisoned.
And look around you. This street is not only historic but is also a vibrant location for everyday life. During the occupation the National Council of the Resistance met secretly at number 48 in 1943. Imagine the tension and hope that filled these buildings. Many significant events unfolded within this unassuming street. We are looking at a location where history meets the modern world. The Rue du Four truly encapsulates Paris’s rich tapestry of time.