Was there really an alley of cherry trees here once? The Rue de la Cerisaie whispers tales of a time when cherry trees flourished. This street in the 4th arrondissement of Paris has a story etched in its very name.
The Rue de la Cerisaie is a mere 261 meters long. It is 12 meters wide. The street runs between Boulevard Bourdon and Rue du Petit-Musc. Today, it is easily accessible via the Sully-Morland metro station on line 7. But its origins are far more enchanting than a simple commute.
Imagine Paris in 1544. King Francis I had united the Hotel d’Etampes with the royal domain of the Hotel Saint-Pol in 1531. He then sold off the land in 1543 to developers. This led to the creation of the Rue de la Cerisaie on a former cherry orchard of the Hotel Saint-Pol’s garden.
For a time the Rue de la Cerisaie even extended at right angles to the Rue Saint-Antoine. In 1636, it was known as Rue de la Serrizaye. Historical records described it as dirty muddy and full of filth.
Around 1585, a wealthy Italian financier named Zamet built a magnificent hotel. This grand construction eliminated part of the street. After Zamet’s death, the hotel was sold to the Constable of Lesdiguières. From 1739 to 1742, the gardens were reduced significantly. The western part was sold to the Convent of the Visitation Sainte-Marie. Land developers constructed the Rue Lesdiguières in 1765.
Interestingly, the Rue de la Cerisaie was extended onto the hotel grounds. The hotel itself was rebuilt smaller in 1741 at the current numbers 10 and 12. A plaque commemorates Tsar Peter the Great’s stay in 1717. However, the rebuilt hotel was destroyed in 1877 during the construction of Boulevard Henri IV.
An interesting fact: a house built by architect Philibert Delorme in 1558 at number 14 was also destroyed. This happened during the opening of the boulevard.
Over time, the street was called Rue Neuve de la Cerisaie and Rue Serisay. Finally, it became the Rue de la Cerisaie.
Today, number 4 bis houses the Esperanto cultural center. It is the headquarters for several Esperanto associations. Number 10 marks the former location of the Hotel de Lesdiguières. It was built for the financier Sebastien Zamet. Numbers 13 to 17 once held a hotel owned by Evrard Titon du Tillet. He was the owner of the Folie Titon. At number 25 stands a 17th-century private mansion with a pediment.
Number 31 has an intriguing story. In the 18th century, it was occupied by services managing the temporal affairs of the Celestins convent. Jacques Hillairet wrote that administrators enjoyed fine dining there. A trapdoor opened at a given signal. A wonderfully furnished table rose from the cellar. Today, a restaurant named Le Temps des Cerises occupies this very building.
As you stroll along the Rue de la Cerisaie imagine the people. Picture the cherry trees. Envision the grand hotels and hidden cellars. This street has witnessed centuries of Parisian life. It is a reminder that even the simplest of names can hold a wealth of history.