Did you know that the Rue d’Artois owes its existence to royal stables? This Parisian street in the 8th arrondissement has a fascinating story. It involves royal intrigue, aborted real estate ventures and a vibrant cultural past.
The Rue d’Artois begins at 96 rue La Boétie. It ends at 52 rue Washington. But its story starts much earlier. We need to jump back to the 17th century.
Imagine this area in 1640. It was once a royal plant nursery. This nursery supplied trees, shrubs and flowers to royal residences. Under the Regency, the land was repurposed. John Law planned a housing development. This project never materialized.
In 1755, the Comte de Saint-Florentin acquired the land. He then gifted it to his mistress, the Comtesse de Langeac, in 1764. She sold it in 1772 to the Comte d’Artois. He was the younger brother of Louis XVI.
The Comte d’Artois initially planned a unique neighborhood. It was to be called “New America.” Streets would honor heroes of the American Revolutionary War. But after peace with England, his tastes changed. He embraced all things English.
He envisioned a “Ville des Adelphes” or “New London.” It would feature individual houses in the English style. A theater and shopping center were planned. He reserved a plot for his stables. These stables eventually gave the street its name.
The French Revolution halted these plans. The land was seized and sold. Buyers had to provide land for the streets authorized in 1778. But this street opening was delayed.
The project was revived in 1821. In 1823, the “rue Neuve-de-Poitiers” finally opened. Soon after, it was renamed “rue des Écuries-d’Artois”. This translates to “Street of the Artois Stables.”
The section towards rue Washington had opened in the late 18th century. It was on land belonging to the Congregation de l’Oratoire.
In 1848, the entire street was briefly named “rue de la Réforme.” This honored the Protestant Reformation. The nearby rue de l’Oratoire-du-Roule inspired the name. By 1852, it reverted to “rue des Écuries-d’Artois.”
Finally, in 1897, the street received its current name. It became the Rue d’Artois. This celebrated Charles-Philippe, Comte d’Artois. He later became King Charles X.
Number 1 Rue d’Artois was a Surrealist hotspot in 1924. André Breton’s Manifesto of Surrealism was published at that time.
Alfred de Vigny lived at number 3 from 1833 to 1838. Then he moved to number 6. He lived there for over twenty-five years. He also died there.
The notorious gangster Francis “The Belgian” Vanverberghe was murdered. This happened in front of number 8.
At numbers 18-20, you’ll find the gardens of the hôtels de Rigny and de Talhouët-Roy. Today, it is the location of the Apicius restaurant.
Claire Vanderbilt had an art collection at number 23. Today, it is the Embassy of Malta.
From 1958 to 1968, the Blue Note jazz club was located at number 27.
So, as you walk along the Rue d’Artois, remember its layers of history. Royal ambitions. Artistic gatherings. Even criminal events. They have all left their mark on this street.