“Danton who?”, I hear you ask. Well, the Rue Danton is named after Danton. He lived nearby. This street is in the 6th arrondissement of Paris.
Rue Danton is a relatively recent addition to this area. It is quite old. Some nearby streets date back to the 12th century. Rue Danton was built between 1888 and 1895.
Now let’s focus on some of the buildings that stand on Rue Danton.
At number 1 Rue Danton, you will see the first reinforced concrete building in Paris. It was constructed in 1893. Engineer François Hennebique and architect Édouard Arnaud designed it. Alexandre Bigot created the Art Nouveau mosaics on the building’s facade. Hennebique wanted to show concrete was versatile. It could replace traditional materials and cost less. He also promoted concrete as a safe material. His slogan was “No more disastrous fires”. The building served as Hennebique’s headquarters. His offices were located here. The first four floors were apartments. The top floor housed Hennebique’s construction company. It accommodated 100 engineers.
Hennebique also built the Pont Camille de Hogues. It was one of the first reinforced concrete bridges in France. By the early 20th century, Hennebique controlled 20% of the global market in reinforced concrete. His company had agencies in 20 countries. By World War I, it had built 1500 bridges worldwide.
At number 3 Rue Danton, admire the building designed by architect Édouard Perrone. It won a prize at the city’s facade competition in 1900.
At number 5 Rue Danton, dancer Isadora Duncan set up a dance studio. She also had her private apartments here in 1909.
Let’s move on to number 8 Rue Danton. This is the Hôtel des Sociétés Savantes. It is now occupied by the Faculty of Arts. Architects Paul Sédille and Fernand Delmas built it in 1900. It stands on the site of the former Hôtel de Thou. Lenin spoke here more than once. In May 1908, he spoke about “Our Tasks”. In November 1909, he spoke on “Counter-Revolutionary Liberal Ideology”.
Around where number 10 Rue Danton stands today, Nathalie Le Mel once lived. This was in 1865. Her address was 1 Rue Larrey back then. She organized cooperative kitchens. These were part of the Marmite association. The International Working Men’s Association continued to organize here. This was after Napoleon III banned it.
Finally, let’s remember Ferdinand Kronis. He was killed during the Liberation of Paris. A plaque commemorates him at the intersection with Rue de l’Éperon.
Rue Danton offers a glimpse into Parisian history. It showcases architectural innovation and political activity. Take a moment to appreciate the stories held within these walls.