“A street named Blue” you might think. But Rue Bleue’s story is far from simple. This unassuming Parisian street in the 9th arrondissement holds secrets within its cobblestones. It wasn’t always Rue Bleue. It was once Rue d’Enfer the Street of Hell.
Rue Bleue’s name change is a fascinating tale. In 1789 the Duke of Orléans had it renamed. He did it to impress the Comtesse de Buffon. He thought “Rue Bleue” would be easier to remember than “Rue d’Enfer”. There was also a Rue Verte nearby he noted. Though the Rue Verte wasn’t actually that close. It was probably the current Rue de Penthièvre. This is in the 8th arrondissement. Another theory suggests the name comes from a blue ball factory. This factory was founded on the street in 1802.
Rue Bleue has witnessed history. A police officer was shot dead there in 1971. Cesare Battisti a former Italian terrorist lived at number one. He was arrested in the building’s lobby in 2004. Number two housed Louis-Emile Vanderburch a successful playwright in the 1840s. Number three was home to Gaston Tissandier a chemist and balloonist in 1899. The fashion school MOD’SPE Paris now stands at number nine.
The street’s history is full of unexpected twists. Number fourteen sits where Charles-Henri Sanson the executioner of King Louis XVI was born. Number seventeen is built with stones from houses demolished in the Rue Saint-Nicaise explosion. This explosion threatened the life of Napoleon. The House of Armenian Culture sits in the courtyard of number seventeen. Number nineteen was where François Sudre a musician who invented Solresol died.
Sadly number twenty no longer exists. Excavations for the Rue de Trévize erased it. It was once home to Gustave and Jane Monod and their son Charles. The house at number twenty-five bears a plaque for Edme-Jean Leclaire. He was a house painter. Admiral Delsaigne who fought in Guadeloupe also died there. At number twenty-seven Maurice Braive and his wife were arrested in 1941. This event inspired Patrick Modiano’s novel L’Horizon. Number twenty-nine was the birthplace of Henri-Laurent Rivière a writer and naval officer.
Rue Bleue’s past shows the diverse lives lived within its borders. From tragic events to artistic achievements. Its name change itself reflects the whims of power. This quiet street in Paris whispers tales that still resonate today. Each building holds a story. A story of lives lived and legacies left. Take a moment to appreciate the rich history of Rue Bleue.