“A road of the well-to-do who were too poor to pay taxes” That’s how the Rue des Bouillots began its story. Right here before us lies a Parisian street with a fascinating past. It’s not just any street it’s a living testament to Paris’s history.
Rue des Bouillots originally housed almshouses for the respectable poor. Their income was too low to pay taxes. These houses stood where numbers 32 to 36 are today. They were built probably in the 17th century. Before that it was known as the Rue des Viez-Poullies. The Rue des Bouillots changed names during the French Revolution. It was briefly renamed Rue des Francs-Citoyens.
The street still boasts some of Paris’s oldest buildings. It separates the third and fourth arrondissements. At numbers 14-18 you’ll find part of the Carnavalet Museum. This museum showcases Paris’s historical collections. Its official address though is at number 23 Rue de Sévigné.
Number 25 is a marvel. It’s the best-preserved aristocratic townhouse Hôtel de Lamoignon. Today it’s a public library dedicated to the history of Paris. Its garden opened to the public in 1969. It was renamed the Jardin de l’Hôtel-Lamoignon in 2018.
The Rue des Bouillots also reveals traces of Philippe Auguste’s wall at numbers 31-33 and 57. There are several other grand townhouses too. On May 12 1839 the Town Hall of the 7th arrondissement at number 43 was seized. The Society of Seasons insurrectionaries were responsible. Barbès Blanqui Martin Bernard and Albert Laponneraye were involved in its capture.
Even Charles Rappoport a prominent figure in the SFIO and PCF lived at number 50. This was when he first arrived in Paris from Russia in 1895. The magnificent private mansion at number 60 Hotel de Soubise became the National Archives in 1794. It was saved from destruction. Versaillais troops attacked the barricade at number 61. The 125th battalion of the National Guard defended it on May 25 1781. Louis-Guillaume Debock and André Alavoine played a crucial role. They were later pardoned for their support of the Commune.
The Rue des Bouillots offers more than just grand buildings. It whispers tales of the poor the revolutionaries and the preservation of Paris’s rich history. This seemingly quiet street has seen it all. It stands as a silent witness to centuries of change. Its story is a testament to the enduring spirit of Paris.