Medieval houses are very rare in Paris. These two at 11 & 13, rue Francois-Miron are attributed to a feed store and to a sheep keeper. They can be credited in their primitive state to the 14th century. In 1607, it was ordered to cover the wood of such houses with plaster ("Plaster of Paris" of course!) to prevent fire, but the architects who restored the building have restored it to it's original state.They were reconstructed in 1967. See the exact location on Google Maps
Really cool information Eric. It looks like this is near the other photo you took of St. Paul's church. Am I right?
ReplyDeleteHey, Michael, where have you been hiding?!!
ReplyDeleteThe 4th is full of treasures like that, but so is the 5th, 6th, the area hidden behind Bastille (not the yuppy part, the other part)... sigh...
I love to see signs of medieval times in Paris. I even saw what's left of a wall that used to circle the city for protection. It was near the Pantheon, so I guess Tomate is right, these treasures can be also found in the 5th and 6th...
ReplyDeleteWE missed seeing these buildings. Next visit will include viewing them. Is that really where "plaster of Paris" originated? I always wondered why it was called that. Glad Michael is commenting again. Johnny
ReplyDeleteThat's one thing I loved about living in the 5th--all the random old stuff! I lived down the street from the Arènes de Lutèce, and in the other direction is the Musée de Cluny. The building across the street from where I lived had a plaque on it that said 1865. Here in Richmond, there would be all sorts of historical preservation! Don't touch it! It's historical! That 1865 building in Paris? A verrerie with apartments over it. Why? Because 1865 isn't really old in Paris.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! An idea of what Paris might look like if Baron Haussman hadn't "changed" a few things! (mind you, Paris wouldn't have the nice boulevards)
ReplyDeleteFor JohnnyParsons (about Plaster of Paris), I found this :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plaster
I also read somewhere about "rue Blanche" in your area Eric, that it was called like that because of the plaster they were bringing down from Montmartre and covering the street in white dust! True or false, the story of the etymology is interesting!
It is interesting to get a tiny glimpse of what this great metropolitan city once looked like.
ReplyDeleteThis photo jumped right into my memories because I have a photo of these buildings from a 2006 walk. I think there is a plaque on the front of the house with historical information, in French bien sur. I neglected to photograph the plaque. I can read, in my shot, the street names a coin de rue Francois-Miron and rue Cloche Perce. Fun photo, thanks again Eric.
ReplyDeletewe always chuckle in our family about my son, 5 at the time, pointing out a half-timbered house to us as we drove through France. We couldn't see what he was talking about, but he kept pointing impatiently at some decrepit vestige of a house and saying it was half-timbered, half-fallen-down. And we thought of how kids in Canada, echoing the warning cries loggers would make when felling a tree, would yell "Timber" -- and it all made sense. It was, indeed, a half-timbered house, but not of the kind we were thinking! Your example is much closer. . .
ReplyDeleteAhh..oui, the rue Francois Miron..one of my favorite restaurants is right near there, Au bourguignon du marais - 52, rue François-Miron.
ReplyDeleteI have many fond memories of walking in the autumn rain in that area after having a long lunch.....take me away!!
Hey everyone! Glad to see you're still there (even Michael! BTW, how's the weather in Paris, I bet you'd love to be in your home State at the moment - 80° on average...)
ReplyDeleteSo yes, like Marcia said, 1865 is not very old in Paris.
Talking about history I discovered some in Florida (well, OK, it's a little imported, but still!). Have a look at this.
And where I am at the moment (Sarasota), I found something even more unusual. I'll take a photo asap and will post it on the making of).
We were just in this area last month, though closer to rue Charlemagne and Eglise St Paul St Louis. I just love the information you give on your blog. It's always very interesting and very informative. Thanks as always, Eric.
ReplyDeleteWow, I had no idea you had some of these. Thank goodness for the restauration.
ReplyDeleteNice Perspective an a great house!
ReplyDeleteIf I remember correctly this house in near St. Gervais/St. Portais in the Marais. Very close to St. Paul metro station.
Rare en effet, j'ai jamais vu des maisons comme ça à paris ^^
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