Rue Désiré Ruggieri

Have you ever heard of D\u00e9sir\u00e9 Ruggieri? No, not the road called after him, Rue D\u00e9sir\u00e9 Ruggieri, that we’re standing in front of right now. D\u00e9sir\u00e9 Ruggieri was a famous fireworks expert, in fact, he became the official fireworks maker for Napoleon III. He was so famous, that he even had a close relationship with Emperor Napoleon III. It’s a short street, just about a hundred meters long and only eleven meters wide. It’s actually quite pretty despite its short length, with a mix of old and new buildings that give it a unique charm. In some ways, it is like a miniature world of the 18th arrondissement. But for D\u00e9sir\u00e9, it meant even more. His family had been in the business for a long time, and in fact, it can be traced back to five brothers who had all come to Paris in 1739. They had a long history of creating spectacular displays for the French aristocracy and were even responsible for the fireworks that celebrated the marriage of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette in 1770. But things didn’t always go as planned. Rue D\u00e9sir\u00e9 Ruggieri reminds us of the time that a rocket went off course at a fireworks display in the Place Louis XV and caused a panic, in which 133 people died. D\u00e9sir\u00e9’s father, Claude, was a famous fireworks master as well. He later opened a garden called the Jardin Ruggieri, which combined fireworks with other entertainment, like pantomimes, games, and music. It was a popular spot, but sadly, the French Revolution put an end to the garden. So, even though the street we stand on is short, it has a long history of being associated with fireworks and the Ruggieri family’s legacy. The Rue D\u00e9sir\u00e9 Ruggieri is a reminder that even the smallest of places can hold big stories.