How did the Rue des Prés de Champlain get its name? Until the 17th century the land was prone to flooding. It was largely open fields or prés. This gave the quarter its name.
Let me tell you about the area around the Rue des Prés de Champlain. We are in Saint-Germain-des-Prés. This is one of the four administrative quarters of the 6th arrondissement of Paris. It is located around the church of the former Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés.
Saint-Germain-des-Prés is known for its literary and artistic history. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries many celebrities lived and worked here. Saint-Germain was the meeting point for existentialists painters and writers.
Today Saint-Germain is one of the best shopping areas in the city. You can find cafes brasseries and restaurants here. There are also art galleries theaters and street markets. The Jardin du Luxembourg is nearby too.
The Saint-Germain-des-Prés Abbey was founded in the 6th century. Childebert I the son of Clovis I started it. In 542 Childebert was at war in Spain. He raised his siege of Zaragoza. He heard that the inhabitants had placed themselves under the protection of Saint Vincent. The bishop of Zaragoza gave him the saint’s stole.
Childebert returned to Paris. He had a church erected to house the relic. It was dedicated to the Holy Cross and Saint Vincent. He placed it where he could see it from the royal palace. This was on the Île de la Cité. In 558 St Vincent’s church was completed. It was dedicated by Germain Bishop of Paris. On the same day Childebert died. A monastery was built close to the church. The Abbey church became the burial place of the Merovingian Kings.
Around 1000 AD the church and buildings of the Abbey were rebuilt in stone. The Abbey became a major center of scholarship and learning. A village grew up around the Abbey. By the 12th century it had about six hundred inhabitants. The modern rue du Four is the site of the old ovens of the monastery. The dining hall was located along the modern rue de l’Abbaye.
Saint-Germain-des-Prés was not only a religious and cultural center. It was also an important marketplace. This was thanks to its annual fair. The Foire Saint-Germain attracted merchants and vendors from all over Europe. It was already famous in 1176. The fair opened fifteen days after Easter. It lasted for three weeks. In 1789 the fair was closed down permanently.
At the end of the 16th century Margaret of Valois decided to build a residence here. She was the estranged wife of King Henry IV of France. She built a palace with gardens. She established herself as a patroness of literature and the arts.
The first café in Paris appeared in 1672 at the Saint-Germain Fair. An Armenian named Pascal served coffee. He opened a permanent establishment. It was considered more of a medication than a beverage. Another Armenian named Maliban opened a café on the rue de Buci. A waiter named Grigoire took over the business. He opened it on rue Mazarine. The café was taken over by Francesco Procopio dei Coltelli. He renamed it Procope. It became a success and is still in business today.
The American Revolution ended here. The Treaty of Paris was signed on September 3 1783. It was signed at the Hotel York at 56 rue Jacob. Benjamin Franklin John Adams and John Jay were part of the American delegation.
Saint-Germain-des-Prés became a center of revolutionary activity after 1789. The prison of the Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés was filled with people arrested for suspicion of counter-revolutionary motives.
In the 20th century Saint-Germain-des-Prés was known for its cafes bars diversity and non-conformism. It was a meeting place for the gay community. It was also popular with students from French colonies in Africa.
After World War II Saint-Germain-des-Prés became home to many small jazz clubs. They were mostly located in cellars. Existentialism was centered here after the war. Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir held court at the Café de Flore the Brasserie Lipp and Les Deux Magots.
The Rue des Prés de Champlain and the surrounding area have a rich history. They have been home to kings artists writers and revolutionaries. I hope you enjoyed this walk through time.