How about a street named after a Maréchal de France? That’s Rue Fabert. This street in the 7th arrondissement honors Abraham Fabert. He lived from 1599 to 1662. Rue Fabert is not just any street. It is 460 meters long and 12 meters wide. It begins at 32, quai d’Orsay. It ends at 146, rue de Grenelle. The street runs along the west side of the Esplanade des Invalides.
Let’s step back in time. The street appeared on Edme Verniquet’s grand plan of Paris in 1796. But it had no name then. It was officially opened in 1804. This followed the development of the Esplanade des Invalides. This development took place between 1804 and 1807. For a brief period in 1806, it was named Rue d’Austerlitz. But don’t confuse it with the other streets of the same name in the 12th and 13th arrondissements.
The street is close to the Hôtel des Invalides. It received its current name by decree. The exact date of the decree is unknown. Rue Fabert has seen its share of drama. During the great flood of the Seine, the street was flooded. A photo from the Musée Carnavalet shows an officer and his wife being carried by servants. The water reached their ankles.
Rue Fabert boasts some remarkable buildings. At the northern end is Place de Finlande near the Quai d’Orsay. Number 4 is an old private mansion. It was raised by five floors in 1934. This building has a quirky history. In 1893, a human hand was found in a basket outside. It turned out to be from an Egyptian mummy. The hand had been brought back 40 years earlier. The son of the collector lived there at the time. In 1938, a daring robbery occurred. Two million francs worth of jewelry was stolen. It was like an Arsène Lupin story with no forced entry. Several noble families have lived here. More recently, the couturier Hubert de Givenchy lived here. Today, 4 Rue Fabert is a co-owned building.
At number 6 is the Hôtel d’Haussonville. Since 1949, it has housed the Austrian Embassy in France. Number 18 was home to Le Divellec restaurant. Mazarine, François Mitterrand’s daughter, was first photographed there. The photo revealed her existence to the public. The building at number 26 dates back to 1912. The architects were Charles Duval and Emmanuel Gonse. At 38 bis, the building was designed by Maurice Hodanger in 1902. In 1907, the Norwegian legation was located here. Finally, at 40 ter, you can see the inscription “MELLERIO FUMISTE”. This indicates a chimney sweeping business run by Italian immigrants.
Rue Fabert offers a glimpse into Parisian history and architecture. From noble residences to mysterious robberies, it has many stories to tell. As you stroll along Rue Fabert, remember the figures who shaped its identity.