Was this street always called Rue Ferdinand Duval? No. Before 1900 Rue Ferdinand Duval had other names. It was once known as Rue des Rosiers. That’s because it was part of a larger street of the same name. This is in the historic Marais district. This area has a rich history.
Rue Ferdinand Duval is 135 meters long. It runs from Rue Pierre-Seel to Rue des Rosiers. The street connects to Rue de Rivoli. It’s part of the Pletzl a historic Jewish area in the Marais. The name Rue Ferdinand Duval is relatively recent. It’s named after a Prefect of the Seine and municipal councilor. His name was Ferdinand Duval. He lived from 1827 to 1896.
Imagine life on Rue Ferdinand Duval centuries ago. The street even had a different layout. Before the 15th century there was a passage called Passage du Petit-Saint-Antoine. This was absorbed into Rue des Rosiers. The street also had a religious significance. A statue of the Virgin Mary once stood at the corner of Rue des Rosiers and Rue Ferdinand-Duval. It was erected sometime before the 18th century. This statue suffered damage during religious persecution. It was replaced several times. It finally disappeared during the French Revolution.
For a long time Rue Ferdinand Duval was known as Rue des Juifs. This is because the Jewish community lived in the Marais. A map from 1609 shows the street labeled “R. d. Iuifz”. A 1636 manuscript mentions “Rue des Juifz”. This document described the street as dirty. In 1898 after the Dreyfus affair petitions were made to change the street’s name. This is interesting because the street was finally renamed in 1900 to honor Ferdinand Duval. The renaming was controversial.
Today Rue Ferdinand Duval retains its charm. Building number 8 has interesting features. The initials J and B are carved into window frames. They belong to Jean-Baptiste Bouillot. He was a master locksmith who bought the house in 1734. He also made the ironwork. Number 11 housed the OSE. This is the organization for aid to children. It’s specifically the center for medical and psychological assistance. Number 15 has a large oval well in its courtyard. This building houses the environmental magazine La Flèche. This magazine is published by the Robin des Bois association.
Number 19 witnessed a dramatic event. In 1871 the building underwent a search. This search aimed at finding members of the Paris Commune. The commune member Adolphe Clémence resided there. He was a bookbinder’s worker. He was the grandson of a member of the Conspiracy of Equals. Building number 20 is remarkable too. This contains a beautiful mansion from the 16th century. This hotel was formerly called “Hotel des Juifs”. It housed Manessier de Vesoul. He was a royal tax collector for the Jewish community in the late 14th century. The architecture is interesting. The pilasters roof and sculpted stone dormers are noteworthy. Many historical figures may have passed through this area and these old buildings. Rue Ferdinand Duval is a street rich with history secrets and stories.