Magnifique! The Tour Saint-Jacques stands before us. It is a proud vestige of old Paris. Once, it was just a bell tower. The tower belonged to the church of Saint-Jacques-de-la-Boucherie.
Now, let’s delve into the story of this iconic monument.
In the Middle Ages, this area teemed with commerce. Butchers were particularly powerful here. They provided Parisians with much meat. This brought them wealth and influence. They also participated in many revolts.
The butchers gave their name to the parish. It was dedicated to Saint James the Greater. The church became Saint-Jacques la Boucherie.
Between 1508 and 1522, a grand bell tower rose for this church. It stood over 50 meters high. The tower proudly displayed the statue of the church’s patron saint. Its bells resounded far and wide.
During the Revolution, Saint-Jacques la Boucherie faced confiscation. Like many Parisian churches, it was sold in 1797. A private individual bought it to use as a stone quarry. But there was one condition. The bell tower must not be destroyed.
Soon after the sale, Saint-Jacques la Boucherie was demolished. As the 19th century neared, the bell tower stood alone. It towered over the neighborhood. Its 54 meters made it one of the tallest monuments in Paris. This height likely contributed to its survival.
But what to do with this isolated tower? How could it be used?
In the early 1800s, a new method emerged from England. It was for manufacturing lead shot. Molten lead was dropped from a great height through a sieve. This produced denser lead shot.
Previously, molten lead was plunged into water. This caused the material to retract. It reduced the density of the final product.
The Tour Saint-Jacques became a lead shot factory. This practice was not without risk. Between 1800 and 1847, two fires broke out. In 1819, a fire started in a furnace at the top of the monument. Then, in 1824, flames completely destroyed the market buildings.
The City of Paris repurchased the Tour Saint-Jacques in 1836. The press widely celebrated this act.
At that time, plans were underway. They would extend the Rue de Rivoli. This would link the Place de la Concorde and Place Saint Antoine. The year after the repurchase, the market was razed. This isolated the Tower in a square.
Still, the question remained. What should be done with the monument?
Various ideas surfaced. A water tower perhaps? Or a watchtower? Someone even suggested moving the Tower. They would place it in the Place du Châtelet.
Meanwhile, lead shot production continued. The municipality did not terminate the industrial lease until 1848.
In the early 1850s, Haussmann initiated the Rue de Rivoli project. A decision was made to restore the monument. Théodore Ballut oversaw the work.
Excavations around the tower were necessary for the street construction. To avoid damaging the structure and its foundations, it was left on a promontory. Around it, the first square in Paris was created.
On the ground floor, the facades were opened. This revealed the interior vaults. A statue of Blaise Pascal was installed in the center. It commemorated his experiments on gravity. Though, some now believe these experiments took place elsewhere.
The architect enhanced the decoration as the restoration progressed. The statues at the summit were replaced. These included Saint James and symbols of the evangelists. Statues of saints were placed in the 19 niches created in the 16th century.
In 1855, the restored building was inaugurated. It coincided with the Universal Exhibition festivities. Napoleon III showcased it to Queen Victoria during her visit to Paris.
In modern times, the Saint-Jacques Tower stands as a testament. It marks the chemins de Compostelle. These are pilgrimage routes in France. They lead towards Santiago in northwest Spain. UNESCO recognized it as a World Heritage Site in 1998.
The tower’s rich decoration reflects the wealth of its patrons. They were the wholesale butchers of the nearby Les Halles market. The masons in charge were Jean de Felin, Julien Ménart and Jean de Revier.