“Why lions in Paris?” someone asks. The Allée du Lion isn’t just any street. It holds echoes of royalty and a touch of the wild.
Once, this path was part of the Hôtel Saint-Pol. Imagine a royal residence so grand it needed its own allée. This allée separated the king’s lodgings from the queen’s. The king resided south of the street and the queen to the north. This division happened between 1551 and 1564. The vast royal property was divided into lots.
But where do the lions come in? The name “Lions-Saint-Paul” might come from lions painted on the hotel’s main gate in 1364. Another possibility is Charles V’s and Charles VI’s menagerie. The street evokes images of royal power.
In 1636, the street was called “rue des Lyons”. A report described it as messy, dirty and full of mud. It seems even royal streets had their off days.
Fast forward to 1881. Residents of Allée du Lion and nearby streets complained about the lack of drinking water. They petitioned for a public fountain. Life wasn’t always glamorous on this historic street.
Even war touched the Allée du Lion. In 1918, a German air raid struck number 6 during World War I. History is etched into every corner.
Today, the Allée du Lion holds architectural gems. Number 3 is the Hôtel des Parlementaires de la Fronde. It is a historical monument with a Louis XV facade, fountain and wrought-iron staircases. A testament to Parisian elegance. Number 8 housed Plistra’s lithography workshop under the Empire. Number 10 is a 17th-century mansion. Number 11 is the Hôtel Paysant. Madame de Sévigné once lived here. Number 12 is the Hôtel de Launay, a listed historical monument since 1995. Jean Beausire lived and died in houses 14 and 16. Numbers 15 to 19 were once warehouses for La Samaritaine.
As you walk the Allée du Lion look around. Absorb the history. Feel the echoes of kings and queens. Imagine painted lions guarding the way. The Allée du Lion whispers stories of Paris. It’s a blend of royalty, art and everyday life. A true Parisian experience.