Wandering down this quiet street, do you feel the echoes of a French officer’s bravery? This is Rue Guy de Combaud Roquebrune in Marseille. It’s a short street with a significant story.
Rue Guy de Combaud Roquebrune is located in Marseille’s 7th arrondissement. Specifically, it lies in the Saint-Lambert neighborhood. The street stretches a mere 128 meters. It offers a direct path from Avenue de la Corse to the intersection of Rue Sauveur-Tobelem and Rue François-Taddeï. Rue François-Taddeï extends further to Rue d’Endoume.
This street was not always named Rue Guy de Combaud Roquebrune. Before July 27, 1946, this street and Rue François-Taddeï were both known as Rue Saint-Victor. They took their name from the nearby abbey. The city officially classified the street on April 28, 1855.
The street’s current name honors Guy de Combaud-Roquebrune. He was a French paratrooper officer. Born in 1904, he died in 1944. During his life, Combaud-Roquebrune owned the Ferran printing house at number 28 Rue Saint-Victor.
During the Second World War, he used his printing house for resistance activities. He printed the clandestine newspaper Combat. In 1942, authorities arrested and imprisoned him at Fort Saint-Nicolas. However, he was released six months later.
Standing here on Rue Guy de Combaud Roquebrune, consider the courage of a man who used his business to fight for freedom. He risked everything to publish words of resistance. This street serves as a reminder of his sacrifice. It is a tribute to the power of the press and the bravery of the French resistance. As you walk along this street, remember Guy de Combaud-Roquebrune’s legacy of courage and resistance.