Who knew a Parisian street held such secrets? Welcome to Rue Cujas. This unassuming street in the 5th arrondissement boasts a rich history. It’s named after Jacques Cujas a renowned legal expert from 1522 to 1590. Its proximity to the Faculty of Law explains the name.
But Rue Cujas’s story begins long before Cujas. It existed as early as 1230. Then it was known as Rue Saint-Étienne-des-Grès. This older name hints at its past. It refers to the steps leading to the church of Saint-Étienne. The church itself was possibly even older Merovingian in origin.
The street’s history isn’t just about churches. The Rue des Grès part of Rue Cujas occupied the site of a Jacobin convent. This convent was founded in 1217. It was later demolished. The materials were then used in the construction of Rue Cujas and other nearby streets including Rue Victor-Cousin Rue Soufflot and Rue de Cluny.
Imagine the transformation. A quiet convent replaced by bustling streets. The construction of the newer parts of Rue Cujas wasn’t without its drama. A newspaper reported strange events during demolition in 1846. It seems that mysterious projectiles were being thrown from the construction site. The mystery remains unsolved.
Today Rue Cujas is a mix of old and new. You can find the entrance to the Cujas library. The Hall Cujas is also here. It houses departments of the Sorbonne and Panthéon-Assas universities. The street also has the southern facade of the prestigious Lycée Louis-le-Grand. This lycée was rebuilt between 1885 and 1888. It even stands on the former site of the Collège des Cholets another important historical institution.
So next time you walk down Rue Cujas remember its layers of history. Remember the legal scholar the ancient church the Jacobin convent and even the mysterious projectiles. This Parisian street quietly whispers of centuries past. It’s a story etched into the very stones beneath your feet. Enjoy the rest of your tour.