Considering that the name “Prouvaires” is derived from the old French word for priests let’s delve into the tale of this iconic street. Rue des Prouvaires whispers stories of Paris past. It is located in the 1st arrondissement. Today the street is a mere 53 meters long. However its history stretches back centuries.
The name Rue des Prouvaires comes from the priests of Saint-Eustache. These clergymen lived here in the 13th century. “Prouvaire” was the medieval term for “priest”. Over time the name evolved through many variations. These included Rue des Provoires, Rue des Provoirs, and Rue des Provelles.
Once Rue des Prouvaires was much longer. It stretched 199 meters to Rue Trainée near the Église Saint-Eustache. Construction altered the street. The building of Les Halles centrales reduced it significantly.
In the Middle Ages Rue des Prouvaires was a notable street. In 1476 King Louis XI lodged King Alphonse V of Portugal here. Alphonse sought help against Ferdinand of Aragon. Louis provided royal accommodations. He housed Alphonse with Laurent Herbelot a wealthy grocer. Louis entertained Alphonse with various diversions. These included legal debates and theological receptions.
Under Louis XIV a treasure was discovered. Four thousand gold coins were found in a cellar. They were likely hidden during the St. Bartholomew’s Day massacre.
The street has seen many changes. A ministerial decision in 1805 fixed its width at 11 meters. In 1816 buildings from numbers 21 to 43 were demolished. This made way for the Marché des Prouvaires. A royal decree in 1844 increased the street width to 13 meters.
Around the 1860s the street’s northern part disappeared. The construction of Les Halles necessitated this change. Rue des Prouvaires shrank from 199 meters to its present 53 meters.
Today a walk along the Allée Jules-Supervielle gives a sense of the old street. It follows the path of the lost section towards Saint-Eustache.
In 1922 Ferdinando Bosso founded the Italian League for Human Rights. This was during the exile of anti-fascists. The Bosso family lived and worked at number 1. They ran Bosso Frères selling flowers and carved combs. They remained there from 1913 to 1995. Jean Legaret founded the Club des Prouvaires in 1956 also at number 1.
Rue des Prouvaires remains a short but historically rich street. It connects the past with the present. Its story includes royalty hidden treasures and community. Take a moment to appreciate its unique place in Parisian history.