Rue de Felifeu

“A duel fought right here, on Rue de La Feuillade,” I begin, my voice dropping to a dramatic whisper. The cobblestones beneath our feet have witnessed centuries of Parisian life. Imagine the clash of steel, the gasps of onlookers in the 17th century. This street, Rue de La Feuillade, whispers tales of its namesake, François d’Aubusson, Duke of La Feuillade, a Marshal of France under Louis XIV. Established in 1685, it was originally called “rue des Jardins” during the construction of Place des Victoires. The street was later renamed after the Duke, who funded the square’s creation. He even envisioned his own grand mansion, Hôtel de La Feuillade, as part of the project. Though his personal palace never materialized, a magnificent building at number 4 still bears the name, Hôtel de La Feuillade. This building, with its rocaille facade, briefly housed the offices of the infamous financier John Law between 1717 and 1719, before his spectacular financial collapse and flight from France. Ironically, the Duke of La Feuillade, the street’s namesake, also faced financial ruin, brought on by the exorbitant costs of Place des Victoires. He died in 1691, five years before the square’s completion. The Duke’s legacy extends beyond the square and Rue de La Feuillade. He championed a project to make the Loire River navigable, a feat that would have boosted the economy of Roanne and other towns along the river. Rue de La Feuillade, a short street nestled near Place des Victoires, connects to the bustling Rue La Vrillière and Rue des Petits-Pères. It stands as a testament to a man whose ambition, though sometimes excessive, shaped the very landscape of Paris. The echoes of his triumphs and failures linger, woven into the fabric of this historic street.