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Post by Happygoin on Feb 17, 2009 9:19:00 GMT -5
I was studying my Paris map this weekend, making a loose itinerary for my next trip and I got to wondering this. Does anyone know the history or the "why" of the streets named (for instance) Rue St. Honoré and then the same street continues on after an intersection as Rue Faubourg St. Honoré. The same with rue St. Antoine in the Marais.
I must confess that when I was first in Paris and looking for the Maison du Chocolat at 225 r. Faubourg St. Honoré, my sister and I walked and walked and walked, looking for that elusive #225....a kind stranger finally told us what we were doing wrong. Of course we were on r. St. Honoré instead of FAUBOURG St. Honoré. Anyone know??
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Post by luckyluc on Feb 17, 2009 9:58:52 GMT -5
The Faubourg were streets outside the fortification walls of Paris, the street part was inside the town and once pass the city wall, the same street became a faubourg. Of course it is a bit more complex than that in reality.
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Post by phread on Feb 17, 2009 10:33:11 GMT -5
faux = fake, false
bourg = town
faubourg = not really part of the town, suburb.
When these street were named the city still had walls with gates. Only residents of the City of Paris were allowed to sleep within these walls.
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Post by Happygoin on Feb 17, 2009 11:59:32 GMT -5
I have to tell you, this question has been bugging me for years. I'm so glad I asked. What a veritable fountain of knowledge you all are! Thank you.  |
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Post by mez on Mar 3, 2009 5:33:55 GMT -5
What a great question...and of course so succinctly answered by our experts.  Does anyone know if any remnants of the wall are still around? |
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Post by Truffaut on Mar 3, 2009 7:37:17 GMT -5
There are numerous bits and pieces of Philippe Auguste's wall around the city. If you Google it, you can find a listing of addresses online. Some are quite easy to find, others are inside parking garages in the basement of the Louvre, inside private homes, etc.
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Post by cybee on Mar 3, 2009 8:50:00 GMT -5
Good tip, Truffaut. I have (knowingly) seen two parts of the wall. The last one was supposedly the largest remaining section of Philippe-Auguste's wall (circa 1200) at Rue des Jardins Saint-Paul & Rue Charlemagne (4e) with the remnants of a wall tower. (figured that out thanks to the "google it" idea as I could not recall off hand). The other wall part was on the left bank.
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Post by mez on Mar 4, 2009 4:22:39 GMT -5
Brilliant! Thanks for the tips. |
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hahahha