Did you know that Avenue Louis Ménard wasn’t always its current self? This Parisian street whispers tales of transformation and a fascinating past.
Avenue Louis Ménard is located in the 2nd arrondissement. It is a public road in Paris. The avenue begins at 79 rue de Richelieu. It ends at 10-14 rue du Quatre-Septembre. Metro line 3 serves the area at the Quatre-Septembre and Bourse stations.
The street owes its name to its origin. It was opened on the site of the Hôtel Ménars. Before 1726, it was a dead end. It was called “cul-de-sac Ménars”. This was formed on the grounds of the Hôtel du President Ménars.
In 1726, letters patent ordered the extension of the impasse. This extension would be on the site of the Hôtel de Grammont. The new street would be called “rue de Ménars”. It would be 4 toises wide. This provision was not immediately implemented. Renewed by letters patent later, it was executed the following year.
The creation of rue du Quatre-Septembre in 1868 led to the sacrifice of a large part of rue de Ménars. Number 6 Avenue Louis Ménard has a remarkable building. It was built in 1908 by architect André-Félix Narjoux. It housed the annex of the central headquarters of Crédit Lyonnais until 2012. You can still see the bank’s name engraved in stone above one of the building’s entrances.
Its facade combines brick, iron, and cut stone. Its roofing on the street has been listed as a historical monument. This happened since January 15, 1975. The building underwent significant rehabilitation in 2015. The chief architect of historical monuments was responsible. The building was inaugurated on February 18, 2016. A few days later, it won the Best Business Center award at the Marché International des Professionnels de l’Immobilier. In 2016, Facebook moved in. They occupied the top two floors. The co- carpooling platform BlaBlaCar also has offices there.
The Hôtel Ménars stood between number 1 rue Ménars. It also stood between numbers 77-79 rue de Richelieu. Finally, it stood between numbers 2 to 8 rue Saint-Augustin from its construction in 1685 to its demolition in 1736. Number 4 was the address of Alphonse Leduc editions from 1862 to 1866. Number 5 was the former headquarters of the Caisse d’escompte du commerce from 1797 to 1803.
Avenue Louis Ménard has evolved. It transformed from a dead-end alley to a modern street. It reflects the dynamic history of Paris itself. As you stroll down Avenue Louis Ménard, remember its past. It is a story etched in stone and brick.