Picture this. You are standing on Allée de Turenne. A seemingly ordinary street. Yet beneath your feet lies a rich history. Centuries of Parisian life flow through this very pavement.
Allée de Turenne is more than just a street. It’s a living testament to the Marais district’s evolution. Its name itself speaks volumes. It honors Henri de La Tour d’Auvergne. He was the vicomte de Turenne a renowned marshal of France. His former hotel stood here. Though it is long gone. Its presence echoes in the street’s very name.
The Allée’s history extends far beyond Turenne. It was built atop an ancient sewer. This sewer was constructed in 1412 by order of Charles VI. Imagine the smells. The king ordered it covered to hide the stench. This sewer ran under the street. It eventually connected to a larger sewer outside the city walls. The first section was covered in the early 17th century. The northern part followed around 1630.
The Allée’s past is a patchwork of names. It was once known as Ruelle des Égouts. Then Rue des Égouts. Rue de l’Égout Sainte-Catherine. And more. These names reveal its humble origins as a covered sewer.
Allée de Turenne boasts remarkable buildings. Number 34 once housed Liberal Bruand. He was the architect of King Louis XIV. One of the founders of the Royal Academy of Architecture. He built his home between 1660 and 1670.
Number 37-39 held the Lepitre boarding house. Honoré de Balzac studied there in 1814. Number 41 is home to the Fontaine de Joyeuse. A charming fountain from 1847.
But the Allée’s stories don’t end there. Number 65 is the Hôtel de Pologne. A beautiful 17th-century building. Its façade its balconies and its wrought iron work are still admired.
Many buildings on the Allée hold secrets. Number 56 was once Paul Scarron’s home. He was a writer who lived there with his future wife Madame de Maintenon. She later married Louis XIV.
Allée de Turenne is not simply a route. It is a journey through time. It is a living museum. Each building each stone whispers stories of the past. As you walk down Allée de Turenne. Remember that you walk on the layers of history. Layers of Parisian life. Layers of dreams and realities. You are a part of that history now.