Quartier de Rochechouart

Tucked away in Paris’s 9th arrondissement, the Quartier de Rochechouart has a captivating story to tell. The Quartier de Rochechouart isn’t just another Parisian neighborhood. It’s a place named after a remarkable woman, Marguerite de Rochechouart de Montpipeau. She was an erudite abbess of Montmartre who lived from 1665 to 1727. Her legacy is etched into the very fabric of the area. Not only does the Quartier de Rochechouart bear her name, but also Boulevard Marguerite-de-Rochechouart and Rue Marguerite-de-Rochechouart pay homage to her influence. Imagine the Quartier de Rochechouart in the late 18th century. Much of it was still farmland, a stark contrast to the bustling city we see today. Then, development began. The Nouvelle France quarter emerged around what is now Square Montholon. The Château Charolais, built between 1739 and 1740, stood majestically. Its grounds stretched between the streets of Bellefond, Rochechouart, Dunkerque, and Faubourg-Poissonnière. The original Notre-Dame-de-Lorette Church, built before 1646, served the Porcherons district from its location where 54 Rue Lamartine now stands. The Quartier de Rochechouart’s character transformed further in the 19th century. Napoleon I, seeking to improve sanitation and hygiene in Paris, ordered the construction of the Rochechouart slaughterhouse in 1810. This gave the area a distinct connection to the city’s food supply. The area also embraced industry with the establishment of the Compagnie parisienne de gaz. It housed the capital’s first gasometer south of Rue Pétrelle. Military supplier Godillot’s workshops occupied the entire block bordered by Rochechouart, Condorcet, Pétrelle, and Faubourg-Poissonnière streets. A devastating fire later struck these workshops, leaving a mark on the neighborhood’s history. Quartier de Rochechouart also attracted notable residents like Victor Hugo, Georges Bizet, and Gustave Courbet, adding to its cultural richness. The Quartier de Rochechouart truly blossomed during the Belle Époque, becoming a fashionable destination. This period left its architectural mark. Many buildings from the late 19th century still stand today, offering a glimpse into the area’s elegant past. So, as you stroll through Quartier de Rochechouart, remember its layered history. It evolved from farmland to a neighborhood shaped by industry, artistry, and the legacy of a remarkable abbess. Each street and building whispers stories of a bygone era.