Doesn’t the name Rue de Buci conjure images of Parisian vibrancy? This street is more than just a passage. It is a stage where the drama of Parisian life unfolds daily.
Welcome to Rue de Buci. This is a place where history whispers from every corner. Let’s dive into the captivating story of this iconic street.
Rue de Buci got its name from Simon de Buci. He was the first president of the Parliament of Paris in 1341. In 1350, he bought the Saint Germain gate. This gate opened onto the narrow street we now know as Rue de Buci.
By the 1700s, Rue de Buci and its surrounding streets became popular spots. Artists, intellectuals, performers, and writers frequented them. These talented men added singing to the neighborhood’s attractions. They started meeting in the Rue de la Grand-Truanderie. They dined and sang together in a spirit of conviviality.
In 1729, these men formalized their group. It happened below the cabaret du Caveau. Nicolas-Alexis Landelle owned the cabaret at the crossroads of Rue Dauphine and Rue de Buci. After a ten-hour meal, the goguette du Caveau was born. Reports say all the men went their separate ways drunk.
The area’s popularity grew. Le Procope and the theater were just around the corner. Sedan chairs waited outside. They were like present-day taxi ranks. They took inebriated clients home.
La Société du Caveau was a club exclusively for men. It had 20 members. Original members included Pierre Gallet, François Boucher, and Pierre Jolyot. New songs were sung. Jean-Philippe Moreau composed Frère Jacques there. Children worldwide still sing this song.
The colorful history of Rue de Buci continued into the 20th century. During World War II, after the Nazi invasion, a brave demonstration of the Resistance took place. It was led mainly by women in April 1942. The PFC assigned the OS to organize demonstrations. They protested against food rationing. The aim was to target restaurants and luxury food stores. They wanted to distribute unavailable food.
On May 31st, activists invaded the Eco food store. They appropriated cans of sardines. A fight broke out between the OS and store employees. The police were called. Men in the OS protection group shot two policemen dead. Twenty arrests were made. Madeleine Marzin, known as Lucette, was among those arrested.
During the same war, in 1943, Simone de Beauvoir and Jean Paul Sartre moved into the Hôtel La Louisiane. Beauvoir took the larger room on the top floor. Sartre took a smaller room below. La Louisiane became the epicenter of intellectual life during those war years. Communist debates, dramas, fallings out, and the beginnings of a sexual revolution took place there. Albert Camus and Juliette Greco also took rooms there.
Today, Rue de Buci offers a vibrant array of experiences. You can find bars, restaurants, bistros, and cafés. The Café de Buci is classified as a historic monument. It has been protecting history, architecture and art since 2018. Maison Sauvage is impossible to miss with its hanging foliage. Le Molière is another historic monument. Jean-Baptiste Poquelin chose the pseudonym Molière there. This also was the address of the first Masonic lodge in Paris.
The Marché Buci was at the heart of Rue de Buci. Established in 1813, this market was full of seasonal fruit, vegetables, flowers, cheese, and bread. Sadly, after 200 years, the Buci market is no more. Most weekends, a traditional jazz band plays at the corner of Rue de Buci and Rue Mazarine.
Rue de Buci is a microcosm of Parisian life. It is a blend of history, culture, and culinary delights. As you stroll down this bustling street, take a moment to appreciate its rich past and vibrant present. You’re walking on a stage where Paris plays out its timeless drama.