“A tax on mud?” you ask, incredulous. “Right here on Rue de l’Orme Sec?”. Yes, indeed! In 17th century Paris, even mud had its price. Especially on a street like Rue de l’Orme Sec, a historic pathway just a stone’s throw from the Louvre. This street, named for a draper’s sign depicting a leafless tree, housed many important figures, including apothecaries catering to royalty! Imagine the bustling trade, the carriages, the inevitable mud! To keep it in check, King Louis XIV imposed a “mud tax”. This levy helps us trace the residents of Rue de l’Orme Sec . One such resident was Michel Dansse, an apothecary to Queen Anne of Austria. He even married into the family of another prominent apothecary on the street, creating a dynasty of healers right here on Rue de l’Orme Sec! Their legacy reminds us that even amidst the grandeur of Paris, the stories of everyday life, like the mud on our shoes, can be the most fascinating.
Église Notre-Dame de l’Air
Beneath what appears to be a simple stone and wood structure lies a history interwoven with faith aviation and community.