Have you ever wondered why a street in Saint-Denis bears the name “Rue du Bailly”? You see, this isn’t just any street, it’s an ancient artery that connects Paris to its historic neighbor. It was the preferred route for transporting monarchs to their final resting place in the Basilica of Saint-Denis. Kings, queens, and princes of the blood – their funeral processions followed this very path to their eternal home.
Rue du Bailly existed long before the grand Grande Rue de Paris à Saint-Denis was constructed in 1720. This ancient road was marked by seven “montjoies,” or memorial stone markers. They were placed at spots where Philip III the Bold, a king burdened with a heavy heart, rested during his journey carrying the ashes of his father from Notre-Dame to the Basilica.
The road, once known as the “Chemin du Bailly,” earned its current name in 1862. The “bailli” was a royal officer, a powerful figure who played a pivotal role in transporting these noble souls. The street itself weaves a path, curving throughout its length, beginning and ending on the rectilinear Avenue du Président-Wilson. Today, the Rue du Bailly stands as a silent witness to a time when the path of the dead was also the path of royalty.