Why is this street named after a military figure? That’s the question that might cross your mind as we stand here at Rue du Colonel Combes. This street is a tribute to Colonel Michel Combes. He was a French military officer. He died in 1837 during the assault on Constantine in Algeria.
Rue du Colonel Combes is located in the 7th arrondissement of Paris. This places us near iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and the Seine. The street begins at 6 Rue Jean-Nicot and ends at 5 Rue Malar. It stretches a modest 75 meters. It has a width of 10 meters.
Interestingly, this street wasn’t always known as Rue du Colonel Combes. Before its current name, it was called Rue du Pont-de-la-Triperie. This translates to “Street of the Tripe Bridge.” This name came from a small bridge. People used it to reach a tripe shop. It was located on Rue des Cygnes. Over time, the name was shortened to Rue de la Triperie.
Later, during the construction of the Gros-Caillou tobacco warehouse, part of the street was removed. This part stretched to the Quai d’Orsay. Eventually, a decree renamed it Rue Combes.
Look at number 10. It’s also number 5 Rue Malar. Here stands a former private mansion. Architect Jacques Drevet built it in 1875. You can see his signature on the facade. In 1897, the Marquis de Pierres de Louvières lived here. An advertisement from 1899 describes a beautiful apartment for sale. It was on the first floor. It included an antechamber, two living rooms, a dining room, and three master bedrooms. There were also four servants’ rooms, a garden, and a stable for three horses. The price was 6000 francs.
Today, Rue du Colonel Combes is also home to the American University of Paris. The Quai d’Orsay Learning Commons has its principal access at number 6.
So, as we continue our walk, remember Colonel Michel Combes. Remember the tripe shop and the mansion. Rue du Colonel Combes encapsulates Parisian history.