Rue de Richelieu
  Rue de RICHELIEU
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| Arrondissement | Ie, IIe |
| Quarter | Palais Royal . Vivienne . |
| Begins | 2 place André Malraux |
| Ends | 1 Boulevards des Italiens |
| Length | 990 m |
| Width | (min) 12 m |
| Creation | Novembre 23, 1633 (from place Colette to rue Feydeau), Octobre 18, 1704 beyond |
| Denomination | 1634?, then 1806 |
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La Bibliothèque nationale,
58 rue de Richelieu   |
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Rue de Richelieu is a long street of Paris, starting in the south of the Ier arrondissement, ending in the IIe arrondissement. For the first half of the nineteenth century, before Baron Hausmann redefined Paris with grand boulevards, it was one of the most fashionable streets of Paris:
The Rue de Richelieu is called the Bond-street of Paris. Parallel with it, is the Rue Vivienne. They are both pleasant streets; especially the former, which is much longer, and is rendered more striking by containing some of the finest hotels in Paris. Hosiers, artificial flower makers, clock-makers, and jewellers, are the principal tradesmen in the Rue de Richelieu; but it has no similarity with Bond-street. The houses are of stone, and generally very lofty—while the Academie de Musique and the Bibliotheque du Roi are public buildings of such consequence and capacity (especially the former) that it is absurd to name the street in which they are situated with our own. The Rue Vivienne is comparatively short; but it is pleasing, from the number of flowers, shrubs, and fruits, brought thither from the public markets for sale. No doubt the Place Vendome and the Rue de la Paix claim precedence, on the score of magnificence and comfort, to either of these, or to any other streets; but to my taste there is nothing (next to the Boulevards) which is so thoroughly gratifying as the Rue de Richelieu. Is it because some few hundred thousand printed volumes are deposited therein? .[1]
Today it is most notable for scattered coin dealers and currency changers, being near the stock market (the Bourse).
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[edit] Origin of the name
The name comes from Cardinal de Richelieu, Prime minister of King Louis XIII.
The street was originally called Rue Royale, then rue de Richelieu soon after. The name was changed to Rue de la Loi during the French Revolution; its name was given back in 1806.
[edit] Buildings of note
- Palais Royal, a Richelieu's residence (Monument historique)
- Bibliothèque nationale de France, a historical building (site Richelieu) (Monument historique)
- Comédie-Française, main hall (salle Richelieu)
- The old Fauré Le Page store located 8 rue de Richelieu at the corner of the rue de Richelieu and the rue de Montpensier. The famous firearms played an active role to the French Revolution by distributing arms to the people in 1789 and in 1830.
- The former Royal Palace hôtel which opened in 1909 was located in the same building as the Fauré Le Page store.
[edit] Access
| Located near the metro stations: Richelieu - Drouot or Palais Royal - Musée du Louvre. |
[edit] References
- ^ Thomas Frognall Dibdin, A Bibliographical Antiquarian and Picturesque Tour in France and Germany (London:W. Bulmer and W. Nicol, 1821) II:93.
[edit] External links
- Palais Royal - Ministry of Culture database (French)
- Bibliothèque nationale - Ministry of Culture database (French)
Rue de Richelieu, looking towards the Louvre
Coordinates: 48°52′05″N 2°20′18″E / 48.868046°N 2.338371°E
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