Think of a street steeped in history. That’s Rue de Rohan. It is a modest yet significant path in Paris’s 1st arrondissement. Let’s uncover its story.
Rue de Rohan begins at 172 Rue de Rivoli. It ends at 157 Rue Saint-Honoré. This wasn’t always the case. Originally, it started at Rue de Chartres-Saint-Honoré.
The street owes its name to Louis-René de Rohan. He was the Grand Almoner of France. He also administered the Quinze-Vingts hospital. He decided to move it to the Faubourg Saint-Antoine.
Its creation dates back to letters patent. These authorized its opening under the name “Rue de Rohan”. It happened on the site of the Quinze-Vingts hospital. Initially, it stretched 136 meters. It linked Rue Saint-Honoré to Rue de Chartres-Saint-Honoré.
For a time from 1796 to 1814, it was named Rue Marceau. This honored General François Séverin Marceau.
Rue de Rohan was once quite narrow. It was only 7.8 meters wide. A ministerial decision in the year IX broadened it to 10 meters. Buildings on the west side were demolished. This made way for the extension of Rue de Rivoli. It also helped form Place du Carrousel.
The street witnessed intense fighting. This occurred during the Trois Glorieuses in July 1830. These were the “Three Glorious Days.” It was a Parisian uprising against Charles X. Hippolyte Lecomte captured this event in a painting. It’s titled “Combat de la rue de Rohan le 29 juillet 1830”.
General de Lamoricière narrowly escaped an assassination attempt here.
In 1905, President Émile Loubet and King Alphonse XIII of Spain were targeted. A bomb attack occurred at the corner of Rue de Rohan and Rue de Rivoli. They were unharmed.
Part of Rue de Rohan disappeared. This happened when the Louvre palace was completed. The section between Rue de Chartres-Saint-Honoré and Rue de Rivoli vanished.
Numbers 20 and 22 mark a former location. It was the Rue des Quinze-Vingts. This disappeared during the Louvre and Tuileries palace connection. The creation of Rue de Rivoli also contributed.
Today, Rue de Rohan is shorter than its original length. It now measures only 40 meters. Its width spans 22 meters. The Palais Royal – Musée du Louvre station serves the area. You can reach it via lines 1 and 7.
Despite its transformations, Rue de Rohan remains a piece of Parisian history. It connects significant locations. It also echoes stories of revolution and resilience.