10 streets of Paris with very strange names

1. Streets of the Great and Small Robberies (Rue de la Grande Truanderie et Rue de la Petite Truanderie)

Where to search: 1st district, metro Étienne Marcel

In the first district, not far from the "womb of Paris" (it's the Central Market) from the XII century there is a street with a frightening name - the Great Rampage. Once upon a time, the elite of the capital's criminal world - the pickpockets and shirmaches of the "Court of Miracles" - resided in her houses. To the same rue adjoins the Maly Razboi Street, which was inhabited by bandits of a smaller scale - ordinary thieves and beggars.

Photo: promenadedunefleur.blogspot.com

2. Rue Vide-Gousset

Where to search: 2nd district, Sentier metro

Another name is a reminder of the tumultuous past of Paris. In the XVII century, this small street, which is only 30 meters in length, was a troubled island of robbery, which should have been circumvented by rightful Parisians, so as not to lose all that was valuable to them.

Photo: parismyope.blogspot.com

3. Street of Bad Guy (Rue des Mauvais-Garçons)

Where to search: 4th district, metro Hôtel de Ville

"Bad guys" in the XVI and XVII centuries roamed the many streets of Paris, because here you could get the jewelry and other valuables careless townspeople. Their tricks were so frequent and loud that in honor of the robbers of Paris, not one capital street was named. Including the rue des Mauvais-Garçons in the Marais. Another version is the overly cheeky behavior of the students of the butcher's workshop, located at this place in the middle of the 16th century.

Photos: flickr.com by Marco

4. Rue du Petit Musc street

Where to search: 4th district, Sully-Morland metro

It's not known where the name of this street came from. Perhaps from the royal menagerie or from other sources, but the funny phrase is preserved. And the term "Musc" is used to refer to musk - a known secret of the genital glands of animals, often used in perfumery.

Photo: sentsmemory.wordpress.com

5. Rue du Pélican

Where to search: 1st district, metro Louvre-Rivoli

Pelicans in Paris, however, like marmosets, can be found only in the zoo. Yes, the birds here, in fact, and with nothing. In the XIV century, the street was densely populated by prostitutes and was called Poil au Con, which in the course of time was transformed into Pélican.

Photo: unjourdeplusaparis.com

Photo: parisdansmonoeil.com

6. Rue du Chat-qui-Pêche street

Where to search: 5th district, metro Saint-Michel

Rue du Chat-qui-Pêche is one of the smallest streets of Paris (26 m), which is nestled between the promenade of Saint-Michel and rue de la Huchette. Named after the cat that belonged to the canon and alchemist in combination (at least, so decided by his neighbors). A busy landlord often threw a pet to the mercy of fate, and he had to procure food himself - to fish in the Seine. The cat was often seen on the embankment: he gazed at the river for a long time and then took the fish out of the water with a lightning stroke. And that, in honor of an intelligent animal and the street is not a pity, let its owner and suspected of dark deeds.

Photo: leblogdelavieenrouge.wordpress.com

7. Rue du Four

Where to search: 6th district, metro Mabilon

Once upon a time in the streets of French cities installed ovens of common use. According to medieval laws, people could bake bread only in these ovens, and part of the finished product was to be given to the lord (in this case it was the abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés). Actually, in honor of such a furnace and called rue du Four, since it was located exactly in this place.

Photos: commons.wikimedia.org

8. Rue des Deux Boules street

Where to search: 1st district, metro Châtelet

In honor of balloons? In honor of the ice cream? The name of this street has been the subject of jokes for several centuries - since 1546. In fact, everything is simple and trivial. There was a certain institution on the street "Guillaume Poré", which was popularly called Deux Boules (why - another mystery, covered in darkness). Here in honor of his signboard street and got its name, with which he lives to the present.

Photos: atrylec.com

9. Street of Good Children (Rue des Bons enfants)

Where to search: 1st district, next to the Royal Palace

In the 13th century, for rue des Bons enfants for 13 children forced to beg, one of the colleges of the medieval Sorbonne - the school of diligent children - was created. Good children are a real gift of fate. In honor of this and the street called - a good thing.

Photo: chicandgeek.com

10. Paradise Street (Rue de Paradis)

Where to search: 10th district, Cadet metro

And we conclude our conversation today on a sweet note - Paradise Street. It is located in the 10th district, in the Saint-Denis district. Until the beginning of the XVIII century, there were many apple orchards belonging to women's monasteries. Later on rue de Paradis there were trading shops offering products from crystal, porcelain and faience.

Photos: enhancedwiki.altervista.org

If you want to continue your trip around Paris, we invite you to take a walk in the unfamiliar places of the capital, but very beautiful - just be satisfied!