History where ever you turn
You know when you come to Paris there's history all around you. You don't need to wait in line for the museum to get your daily dose of history, it's all around us in our streets. Here we'll present two historical landmarks just outside our doors of Apartments du Louvre St Honoré and Le Marais.
A Fearless Tower in our Streets
The Medival tower named Jean Sans Peur is the last standing element of the Parisian Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy and is just down the road from our Le Marais location. It is recognized as the best surviving piece of medival architecture and is opened to the public. The original manor, "hotel particulier" was built in the 13th century and was passed to the Duke of Burgundy in 1369. The tower gets' his name from John I, who was nicknamed John the Fearless. He ruled Brugundy from 1404 until his death by assasination in 1419. The nickname "Fearless" was given to him due to his bravery during the battles he led.
We recommend you go visit this strong piece of history as you can see the impressive architecture inside as well of stunning floral moldings on the staircase. After visiting the tower which is just 2 minute walk from our Le Marais location and 8 minutes from our St Honoré location, have a stroll through the Quartier Montogueil neighborhood, a wonderful pedestrian area filled with restaurants, cafes, bakeries, cheese shops and much more.
Tour Jean Sans Peur
20 rue Etienne Marcel 75002
Wednesdays-Saturdays
1:30-6PM
Historic Water Distribution and Last Prayers for Criminals
About 60 feet from our St Honoré location at the intersection of our street, rue de l'Arbre Sec and rue Saint Honoré, you can find a building that is a classified historical monument since 1925 called Fontaine de la Croix du Trahoir.
It was built in 1776 as a technical building for fountainers to distribute water to the Royal Palace and all the neighbouring minister offices and buildings. It would get the water from the main pump located at the Samaritaine just by the river at the Pont Neuf bridge. The architecture is classical and was conceived by the architect Jacques-Germain Soufflot. After being a center for water distrubution, it briefly became the consulat for Andorra designated by General Charles De Gaulles and then became a host for artists collective which it still is today. There is an open art gallery on the ground floor and various artists studios in the basement of the building.
The intersection on which it stands hold a deep, pretty morbid history as it was up until 1698 where the capital held it's executions of criminials, particularly for counterfeiters.
The cross referred in the name of the intersection pertains to a cross that used to stand in the middle where culprits could say their last words before their executions. Luckily that's a thing of the past and today it makes for a wonderful area surrounded by bistros on which you can enjoy a glass of wine and read up on the history that fills our neighborhood.