Rue du Fer à Moulin

Journey back to the 12th century. Imagine the burgeoning bourg Saint-Marcel, and within it, the newly constructed Rue du Fer à Moulin. Yes, Rue du Fer à Moulin, as it would eventually be known. But its story doesn’t begin with millstones. Originally, this street, home to grand hôtels particuliers, was named Rue au Comte-de-Boulogne. This honored the Counts of Boulogne who held a prominent hôtel within its bounds. Rue du Fer à Moulin later inherited another name: Rue de Richebourg. This name also extended to a small bridge over the Bièvre River, later infamously known as Pont aux Tripes (Tripe Bridge). By 1713, Rue du Fer à Moulin was split, carrying two distinct names. The western section, bordering the Clamart Cemetery, became known as Rue des Morts (Street of the Dead). The eastern part was called Rue Permoulin, likely after a local property owner. Yet another name change occurred in 1780. Rue des Morts became Rue Muette (Silent Street), while Rue Permoulin finally adopted the moniker we know today, Rue du Fer à Moulin. This name, “Iron Mill Street,” likely refers to a millstone fixing piece, a crucial component in a working mill. This “fer à moulin” was also a heraldic symbol, signifying a lord’s ownership of a mill and the obligation of locals to use it. In the late 18th century, Rue du Fer à Moulin played a key role in improving access to the Hôpital Général. Goods arriving by water were unloaded near the Gare and transported through the Saint-Victor barrier. This route, via the winding streets of Faubourg Saint-Marcel, was cumbersome. To streamline the process, administrators widened the pedestrian-only Rue de la Muette. They negotiated with the Hôtel-Dieu administration to acquire land from the Clamart Cemetery. In exchange, they offered equivalent land near the Maison Scipion, a warehouse for the Hôpital Général. This exchange, authorized by royal letters patent in 1783, widened the street to 24 feet. In 1806, during the city’s renumbering, the divided street sections were finally reunited under the single name, Rue du Fer à Moulin. The street’s width was later fixed at 10 meters. Today, remnants of the past linger. Part of number 5, the entire number 6, and the cemetery wall are aligned with the original street layout.