“White cloaks? What’s so special about them?” someone asks. Well let’s dive into the story of Rue des Blancs-Manteaux. It is an ancient street in Paris located in the 4th arrondissement. This area is part of the Marais district. The street spans the Saint-Gervais and Saint-Merri quarters.
Rue des Blancs-Manteaux stretches 330 meters. It begins at 51 Rue Vieille-du-Temple and ends at 40 Rue du Temple. You can reach it via the Hotel de Ville and Rambuteau metro stations.
In the 13th century, it was known as Rue de la Petite-Parcheminerie. It also went by Rue de la Vieille-Parcheminerie. Another name was simply Rue de la Parcheminerie. These names came from the parchment workshops in the area.
The street got its final name around 1289. This was due to the establishment of the order of the Servants of the Holy Virgin. They settled in the neighboring Couvent des Blancs-Manteaux in 1258.
These monks wore white cloaks. Blancs-Manteaux means white cloaks in French. Guillot de Paris mentioned it in Le Dit des rues de Paris as Rue des Blans-Mantiaus.
A manuscript from 1636 refers to it as Rue des Blancz manteaux. A report noted quantities de boues et immundices mud and filth. A ministerial decision on 22 Prairial Year V set the street’s width at 8 meters.
In the 19th century, Rue des Blancs-Manteaux was 330 meters long. It was in the old 7th arrondissement in the Mont-de-Piete quarter. It began at 53-55 Rue Vieille-du-Temple and ended at 22-24 Rue Sainte-Avoye. The street numbers were red. The last odd number was 43. The last even number was 46.
At number 2 once stood a house where chemist Antoine-Francois Fourcroy lived. From numbers 4 to 10 is Square Charles-Victor Langlois. Saint Louis established the order of the Servants of the Holy Virgin here in 1258. They wore white cloaks. In 1274, monks of the order of Saint-Guillaume replaced them. In the 17th century, this convent housed a Benedictine priory of the Congregation of Saint-Maur.
Number 10 houses the old Guillemites fountain. It stands against the Eglise Notre-Dame-des-Blancs-Manteaux. It has been a registered historical monument. Number 12 is the Eglise Notre-Dame-des-Blancs-Manteaux. It is the last remnant of the convent. The remains of the convent are classified as historical monuments.
Number 11 is an architecture gallery. It serves as an exhibition space and bookstore for architecture. The Theatre des Blancs-Manteaux is at number 15. Number 16 is the Mont-de-Piete. It is also known as Credit Municipal. It was established here in 1790. Viel de Saint-Maux, a student of Chalgrin, began the buildings in 1786. They were expanded in the 19th century.
At number 22, in the back of the plot, was the Hotel de Novion. Built in 1638, it was in the Mannerist style. In the 19th century, it was considered a rare and beautiful example of 17th-century art. It was destroyed in 1885. Part of the facade was placed on the side of the building at number 59 Rue des Francs-Bourgeois.
Number 25 was the location of the Cabaret de L’Homme Arme. It existed since the 15th century. Connected to the old Rue de l’Homme-Arme, it disappeared in the late 19th century. This happened during the restructuring of the neighborhood streets. Numbers 35 and 37 are 17th-century buildings.
Juliette Greco and Les Freres Jacques sang Dans la rue des Blancs-Manteaux. Jean-Paul Sartre wrote the lyrics. Joseph Kosma composed the music. The song evokes the executions that took place here during the Revolution. “In the Rue des Blancs-Manteaux” The executioner got up early That’s because he had work to do He has to cut generals Bishops Admirals In the Rue des Blancs-Manteaux. A chilling thought as we stroll along the Rue des Blancs-Manteaux.