A Parisian street named after a hero. That’s Rue Gilbert Médéric. This unassuming street in the 17th arrondissement holds a poignant story. A story of resistance and sacrifice during World War II.
Before its current name Rue Gilbert Médéric was known as Rue Guyot. It’s been around since 1850. In 1860 it became part of Paris’s official road network. The street’s renaming in 1944 commemorates Gilbert Védy. He used the alias Médéric. He was a member of the Algerian Assembly. A brave man he chose a tragic end. He poisoned himself at the Paris Police Prefecture. This desperate act was to escape the clutches of the German occupiers.
Rue Médéric runs from Rue de Courcelles to Rue de Prony. It’s 280 meters long and 12 meters wide. Its relatively short length belies its rich history. The street is quietly dignified. It doesn’t shout its story. You must listen closely.
Number 8 Rue Médéric once housed the workshop of Édouard Manet. The famous Impressionist painter worked there from 1861 to 1872. Imagine the brushstrokes of masterpieces taking shape within those walls.
Number 9 holds a different kind of artistic legacy. The Swedish Church stands there. Built between 1911 and 1913 it’s a testament to the Franco-Swedish community in Paris. In 2021 the Swedish clergy considered selling it. The building was valued at 6 million euros. This decision caused quite a stir among the community.
The Parisian Hotel School stands at number 20. It combines the Lycée Jean-Drouant and the CFA Médéric. The building itself is a work of art. It was constructed between 1935 and 1936. The architect was Raymond Gravereaux. Raymond Subes created its metalwork. A striking fresco adorns it by Yves Brayer.
At numbers 23-27 lies a significant piece of Parisian infrastructure. The first automatic Parisian telephone exchange was built there in 1913 by Paul Guadet. It even survived an attempted bombing in 1982 by the Armenian clandestine group Orly.
The echoes of resistance and art blend on Rue Gilbert Médéric. A quiet street with a powerful past. It shows the layers of Parisian history. It reveals a city built on layers of stories both grand and intimate. Take a moment. Let the spirit of Rue Gilbert Médéric sink in.