“Pasteur”, the name itself evokes images of scientific breakthroughs. The Rue Pasteur Prolongée is named after Louis Pasteur. He was a French scientist. He invented vaccination against rabies. He also invented vaccination against anthrax. But before we delve deeper into the story of the Rue Pasteur Prolongée, let’s clarify something.
There are actually multiple streets in Paris named after Louis Pasteur. This one is located in the 11th arrondissement. It begins at 8 Rue de la Folie-Méricourt. It ends at 41 Avenue Parmentier.
Louis Pasteur lived between 1888 and 1895 in an apartment. These were the last seven years of his life. Due to failing health, he left the apartment on June 13, 1895. He went to Marnes-la-Coquette. He died there on September 28 of the same year.
In 1910, after the death of Louis Pasteur’s wife, his belongings were moved. They went to the Vallery-Radot mansion house in Versailles. Only the furniture and a few paintings remained. The apartment at the Institut Pasteur remained empty for over twenty years.
In 1922, for the centenary of Louis Pasteur’s birth, delegates visited the apartment. They came from nations and universities around the world. Bottles, flasks, and microscopes were displayed in cabinets. These objects became the first collection for a scientific souvenir room.
Doctor Roux, Doctor Legroux, and Professor Pasteur Vallery-Radot worked to preserve the living environment of Louis Pasteur. Doctor Roux opposed any occupancy of the rooms. He wanted the apartment to remain a reminder of Louis Pasteur and his work.
In 1935, Louis Pasteur Vallery-Radot decided to leave all the furniture and objects to the Institut Pasteur. The apartment was then restored to its original appearance by Doctor Legroux. Only the first and second floors were modified. The original layout was reproduced.
In May 1936, the restoration was complete. The apartment became the Pasteur Museum. Doctor Legroux was appointed as its manager. The Pasteur Museum has since become a place of remembrance. It is both a science and art museum. It also is a rare testimony to late 19th-century decorative art.
The Rue Pasteur Prolongée itself was opened on the site of the Caserne Popincourt. The Caserne Popincourt had been built in 1770. It was on a part of the Couvent des Annonciades. It served as housing for the Gardes Françaises. In 1848, the caserne was transformed into a military hospital. From 1850 to 1860, it returned to its function as a caserne. In 1860, it became the Hospice des Incurables-Hommes. In 1862, it became the Caserne Popincourt again. It remained so until 1884. The caserne was demolished in 1885.
So, as you walk along the Rue Pasteur Prolongée, remember Louis Pasteur. Remember the scientist, his life, and his enduring legacy. The street stands as a testament to his contributions to science and humanity.