Rue de la Santé

Have you ever seen a street named after a hospital? Well, here’s a story behind one: Rue de la Santé in Paris means “Street of Health.” In the 17th century, Anne of Austria founded a hospital called Sainte-Anne, which later became a psychiatric hospital. Today, the hospital still stands just off Rue de la Santé. The street was once a rural pathway known as “chemin d’Arcueil,” leading towards the village of Gentilly. In the 1870s, the street experienced two dramatic events: the collapse of underground mine galleries. These galleries were abandoned mine shafts where the Parisian building stone was quarried. These collapses damaged many buildings, including houses numbered 60, 62, and 64. Then, just a few years later, a similar cataclysm occurred in the area of houses numbered 77, 79, and 81. Although these incidents were frightening, they did not cause any fatalities. Today, the Rue de la Santé is a bustling street with a mix of residential and commercial buildings. You’ll see the iconic Prison de la Santé, a large, imposing structure that stands like a sentinel at the end of the street. What might make you stop dead in your tracks is that, from 1909 to 1939, executions were held in front of the prison. That’s right, the very spot where you are standing was the site of Paris’s final public guillotinings. So as you walk down Rue de la Santé, take a moment to reflect on its rich history, from its rural beginnings to its dramatic collapses and its sometimes-dark past. Be sure to admire the well-preserved hospital buildings and the imposing prison. Rue de la Santé is a place of contrasts and stories, a street that embodies the rich history and multifaceted character of Paris.