Private Taxi Driver transportation from Rue aux Ours to Paris Charles de Gaulle airport

History and visit the Rue aux Ours in Paris

Nestled in the heart of the 3rd arrondissement of Paris, Rue aux Ours stands as a historical testament, connecting the bustling Boulevard Sebastopol to the iconic Rue Saint-Martin. Stretching further, it leads eastward to rue du Grenier Saint Lazare and westward to rue Etienne Marcel. Easily accessible, the street can be reached via Rambuteau and Etienne Marcel metro stations. With its relatively short span of 90 meters and a decent width of 20 meters, this road holds centuries of history in its embrace.

The origins of Rue aux Ours can be traced back to the 13th century. By 1770, it was commonly referred to as the street of wester or geese. This intriguing name owes its existence to the proliferation of roasters in the vicinity during the 13th century. Historically, the term “bear” is believed to be a linguistic adaptation of the old word “wester”, which essentially means geese. During the medieval times, the street concluded its journey at rue Saint-Denis, specifically at Nos. 202 and 204. However, in 1854, a portion of the street between today’s Boulevard Sebastopol and Rue Saint-Denis underwent transformation and became part of rue Etienne Marcel.

Embedded deep within the street’s identity is a rich tapestry of legends, passed down through generations. One such legend recounts a blasphemous act committed by a Swiss soldier against the revered statue of the Virgin Mary, known as Our Lady of Carole, which stood proudly at the corner of the room-Comte. The tale narrates how, in a drunken state, the soldier audaciously struck the statue with his sword, causing it to bleed miraculously. While the authenticity of this legend remains a topic of debate, it nonetheless left an indelible mark on Rue aux Ours. So much so, that a grand festival commemorating this event was organized annually on July 3rd. Unfortunately, the advent of the Revolution brought an end to this cherished tradition.