How about a journey down a street named for an abbot. Welcome to the Rue de Jouy. This street bears a name tied to Paris’s distant past.
In the 13th century, the Abbot of Jouy owned a grand residence here. That residence gave the street its name. It became known as Rue de l’Abbé de Jouy. Imagine the abbot strolling along this very path centuries ago.
The Rue de Jouy has a rich history. Once upon a time, it was part of the Rue de la Fausse Poterne Saint-Paul. This was during the 13th century. The Abbot of Jouy owned a hôtel particulier on this street.
Guillot de Paris mentioned this street. He called it Rue de Joy in his “Le Dit des rues de Paris”.
In 1366, the street was divided by the wall of Philippe Auguste. The intra-muros section became Rue de Jouy or Rue de l’Abbé-de-Jouy. The part leading to Rue Saint-Paul was named Rue de la Fausse-Poterne-Saint-Paul.
A manuscript from 1636 describes the street. It was “dirty, messy and full of mud”. In 1799, a ministerial decision fixed the street’s width at nine meters. A royal decree later increased it to eleven meters.
At number 7 Rue de Jouy stands the Hôtel d’Aumont. It now houses the Administrative Court of Paris. Once, it was the city hall for the old 9th arrondissement.
Sophie-Germain high school is at number 9. It stands on the site of the former Hôtel de Fourcy. Before that, it was the Hôtel de Mancy. Even earlier, it was part of the Abbaye de Jouy-le-Châtel.
Numbers 13 to 17 mark the location of the Abbaye de Jouy-le-Châtel’s pied-à-terre. Number 14 is the former Hôtel des Abbés de Chaalis.
The building at number 20 dates back to 1677. Its construction followed a decree. The decree eliminated the old point formed by Rue de Jouy and Rue François-Miron.
Rue de Jouy ends at Rue François-Miron. Number 12 Rue de Jouy was part of the Hôtel de Beauvais.
The Rue de Jouy. It is a place where the echoes of abbots, kings, and revolutionaries mingle. It is a reminder that even the stones beneath our feet have stories to tell.