“Capon” rings oddly charming. What does it mean? Welcome to the Rue des Chapons. This street is a window into Parisian history. It sits in the northern part of Le Marais.
Rue des Chapons has a rich past. The street’s story dates back to the 13th century. It was a time when Paris was growing. The Bourg Saint-Martin-des-Champs was being created.
The name “Chapon” comes from a resident. His name was Robert Begon. He was also known as Capon. In the 13th century, it was Vicus Roberti Begonis, Sive Caponis. Over time, the street had other names too. It was once called Rue Robert Begon. It was also Rue Capon. For a time, it was known as Rue du Coq.
A part of Rue des Chapons had a different name. The section between Rue Beaubourg and Rue Saint-Martin was once Rue du Cimetiere Saint-Nicolas. This name came from a cemetery. The Saint-Nicolas cemetery was removed in the late 18th century. It was on the south side of the street.
In 1617, the Carmelites founded a convent here. It was their second convent. The Carmelite convent stood between Rue des Chapons. It also bordered Rue de Montmorency and Rue Transnonain. The convent was shut down in 1790.
In 1914, World War I touched Rue des Chapons. German planes bombed the street. This shows that even quiet corners of Paris have seen dramatic events.
Rue des Chapons has some interesting buildings. At number 4, you’ll find Hotel Passart. It was built in 1619-1620. Gabriel Soulignac designed it for Claude Passart. Passart became a secretary to King Louis XIII. Juan Pablo Molyneux lives here now. He has redecorated many rooms.
Once, the building housed the Cleopatre company. They were known for their almond-scented glue. Schoolchildren loved it. In 2006, artist Julien Berthier added something unusual to Rue des Chapons. He installed a fake facade at number 1 bis. It had a door and a plaque. It was still there in 2011.
At number 17, Charles Brennus had his engraving business. He engraved the Brennus Shield. Pierre Pachet, a writer, lived at number 18. He lived there from 1977 to 2016. Alain Minc spent his childhood on Rue des Chapons. The Italian painter Paolo Intini lived at number 20.
Hotel Dorat is at number 22. It has a gate with sphinx sculptures. It’s built in a semicircle. This design made it easier for carriages to turn around. Number 27 marks the old cemetery of Saint-Nicolas-des-Champs church. A plaque at number 48 commemorates a meeting. On August 14, 1944, resistance groups met here. Colonel Rol-Tanguy led the meeting. They decided to have Parisian police join the fight. They would help liberate Paris.
Rue Chapon ends at Passage de l’Ancre. The street is served by the Arts et Metiers metro station. At number 10, you can access Passage des Gravilliers.
The story of Rue Chapon includes prostitutes. In 1367, an order mentioned the street. Prostitutes were required to live in certain areas. Rue Chapon was one of them. This rule aimed to control prostitution in Paris.
Rue Chapon is more than just a street. It’s a journey through time. Its name, buildings, and stories reveal layers of Parisian life. From Robert Begon to modern artists. From convents to resistance meetings. Rue Chapon holds many memories. Take a stroll and discover them for yourself.