Do you know where Joan of Arc found her first support? It all started here on Rue de Vaucouleurs. This street in the 11th arrondissement of Paris is named after Vaucouleurs. This is a village in Lorraine where Joan of Arc met Robert de Baudricourt. She asked him to take her to Charles VII.
Rue de Vaucouleurs is not very long. It stretches 270 meters. The street is about 12 meters wide. It begins at 83 Rue Jean-Pierre-Timbaud and ends at 28 Rue de l’Orillon.
This street wasn’t always called Rue de Vaucouleurs. It was first named Passage des Trois-Couronnes. Later it became Passage Vaucouleurs. The name officially changed in 1903. It was then classified as part of Parisian public roads.
In more recent times Rue de Vaucouleurs was modernized. In 2018 the city decided to create a meeting area. They also added more plants.
Sadly Rue de Vaucouleurs is also known for a tragic event. In April 2017 Sarah Halimi was murdered here. She was a Jewish woman. The crime was recognized as an antisemitic act. This event is a reminder of the importance of justice.
The story of Sarah Halimi is a French issue. Justice must be served in the name of the people. Fraternity must remain a core principle.
Rue de Vaucouleurs connects us to French history. It reminds us of Joan of Arc and also of more recent tragedies. As you walk this street remember its history. Consider the stories it holds.