Ever wonder how a street gets its name? The Rue du Bac in Paris has a story that stretches back centuries. This street owes its name to a ferry. “Bac” is the French word for ferry. This ferry was established around 1550. It was near what is now the Quai Voltaire. The ferry’s purpose was to transport stone blocks. These blocks were needed for the construction of the Palais des Tuileries. Imagine the scene. Workers hauling massive stones onto a small boat. The Rue du Bac was then just a path leading to this crucial crossing.
Originally, the street had a different name. It was first known as the Grand Chemin du Bac. Later, it became Ruelle du Bac and Grande Rue du Bac. Eventually, it settled on Rue du Bac. The street is quite long, stretching 1,150 meters. That’s over a kilometer of Parisian history. It begins at the junction of Quais Voltaire and Anatole-France. It ends at the Rue de Sèvres. Today, the Rue du Bac is in the 7th arrondissement.
The Rue du Bac is not just a street. It’s also a station on line 12 of the Paris Métro. However, the entrance isn’t directly on the Rue du Bac. It’s located on the Boulevard Raspail. This is where it meets the Rue du Bac. The station opened in 1910. In 2021, over 1.4 million passengers used the station.
Many notable buildings line the Rue du Bac. At number 97 is the Hôtel de Ségur. Madame de Staël held a regular salon here. People gathered to discuss literature and politics. Numbers 118-120 are two hotels built for the Missions Étrangères de Paris. François-René de Chateaubriand lived and died at number 120. The doors here represent the four corners of the world. This symbolized the evangelical goal of the Missions Étrangères de Paris.
The Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal is located at numbers 136-140. This is part of the Maison des Filles de la Charité de Saint-Vincent-de-Paul. Saint Catherine Labouré is buried here. The Virgin Mary appeared to Sister Catherine here in 1830. This led to the creation of the Miraculous Medal.
The Miraculous Medal has an inscription. “O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you”. This inscription has a special meaning. It foreshadowed the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception. Pope Pius IX proclaimed this dogma in 1854. It recognizes that Mary was without sin since her conception.
The apparitions at Rue du Bac are significant. Some consider them the official beginning of Marian apparitions in the world. The Virgin Mary came to reveal her identity. She did so through the Miraculous Medal. The message was clear. Return to God. Abandon yourselves to His love.
The Rue du Bac has seen many changes. Buildings have been built and destroyed. People have come and gone. Yet, the street remains. It is a testament to Parisian history and faith. So next time you walk down the Rue du Bac, remember its origins. Remember the ferry. Remember the Miraculous Medal. Remember the stones that built a palace. The Rue du Bac is more than just a street. It’s a story etched in stone and faith.