A giant thermometer. That’s what first caught my eye on number 36 Rue de Poitou. Can you imagine? A building proudly displaying a colossal thermometer as its sign? This wasn’t just any thermometer. It belonged to a manufacturer and founder of measuring instruments from the early 20th century.
Welcome to the Rue de Poitou. This unassuming street in the Marais district of Paris holds a rich history. Its name itself whispers tales of France’s past. It’s named after the former province of Poitou. King Henry IV once envisioned a grand square here called the Place de France. Each street would represent a different province.
The Rue de Poitou wasn’t always called that. In its early days it was known as the Rue de l’Oseille. This street was part of a larger development project. The lotisseur Charlot opened up this area in 1626. A manuscript from 1636 mentions it as Rue de Poitou.
Initially a mere 10 meters wide it was widened to 12 meters in 1835 thanks to a royal ordinance. Imagine the narrow, bustling streets of 17th-century Paris. The road’s history is marked by changes. Renovations and realignments shaped the street we see today. This street’s length of 234 meters is quite remarkable for its location.
Numbers 4 and 6 on the Rue de Poitou hold special significance. They were once home to prominent figures. It is believed the street’s original name came from the many students from Poitou who lived here in the 13th century. Number 4 housed the Hotel de Thou. Here Jacques Auguste de Thou created a significant library in 1587. Later this building held a printing shop. In the shop Pierre Leroux founded The Globe newspaper. It became a platform for Saint-Simonians in the 1830s.
Number 6 housed a restaurant and boarding house. It’s called the Pension Laveur. It was in a wing of Thou’s mansion. Gustave Courbet and Elisée Reclus frequented this establishment. They were 19th-century political figures. Many other notable people stayed or ate there. They were students or newly arrived Parisians.
So next time you stroll down the Rue de Poitou remember its long and varied history. Notice the details. Imagine the stories behind the giant thermometer. The Rue de Poitou is more than just a street; it’s a living testament to Paris’s enduring past.