“Ever heard of the apostle of Gaul?” I ask. Today, we’re walking the Sentier du Martin in Paris. It is a path rich with history and tales of Saint Martin.
Saint Martin’s story in Paris begins on the Pont Notre-Dame. Legend says he met and embraced a leper there. The next day, the leper was miraculously healed. This act made Martin popular during his visit to Paris around 385 AD.
Leaving behind the Place du Châtelet, formerly Île Saint-Martin, we find ourselves on Rue Saint-Martin. Why is there a police station here? Saint Martin is the patron saint of police commissioners.
Let’s imagine Saint Martin on horseback. He cuts his cloak in two with his sword. He gives half to a poor man. This act is another reason for his fame.
The street plates tell us we are in the 4th arrondissement. It is Rue Saint-Martin of the Saint-Martin-des-Champs priory. The priory was founded in the 11th century. Since 1799, it has been the Conservatoire national des arts et métiers.
Before reaching this Martinian site, we pass the Saint-Nicolas-des-Champs church. A plaque here recalls the kiss to the leper. Next to it once stood the Saint-Martin-des-Champs abbey. It was one of the most powerful foundations in Paris. It was like the Saint-Germain-des-Prés of the right bank.
Confiscated during the French Revolution, the priory became the Conservatoire des arts et métiers. Its refectory is in the monks’ old library. It is an admirable 13th-century construction.
Continuing along Rue Saint-Martin, we reach the Porte Saint-Martin. It replaced a gate in Charles V’s old wall. Taking Boulevard Saint-Martin to the right, we pass the Porte Saint-Martin theater and the Saint-Martin metro station. The station is now closed. It once sheltered the homeless during winter. In 1999, the RATP turned it into a solidarity space. The Salvation Army manages it. This is in line with the spirit of Saint Martin.
Our journey ends. We followed in the footsteps of Saint Martin. We recalled his acts of charity. We remembered his impact on Paris. The Sentier du Martin connects us to a story of compassion. It is a story that resonates even today.