Rue de Turenne: A Delightful Road in Le Marais
Last Updated on 16th March 2023 by Sophie Nadeau
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If you’re in search of a wonderful street which is steeped in history and has plenty of doors you just wish you could take a peak behind, then rue de Turenne in Le Marais is the place to head to.
The road slices through the 3rd and 4th arrondissements and is just a stone’s throw away from Place des Vosges, meaning that you’ll likely walk along it if you’re planning to visit the famous Parisian square.
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A brief history of rue de Turenne
Le Marais encompasses most of the 3rd and 4th arrondissements and a stroll through this area today feels akin to stepping back in time.
After all, many of the buildings here pre-date the grand Haussmann renovations of Paris during the 19th-century and the layout of the street matches what the city would have looked like during the Middle Ages.
The road was constructed following the cover up of a sewer which followed the course of one of the town walls constructed during the reign of Charles V. The road today follows the route that the sewer would have taken.
The street itself is named for Henri de La Tour d’Auvergne, viscount of Turenne, who had a now-demolished hôtel particulier (a kind of mansion houses) on the street in the 17th-century.
Highlights of rue de Turenne
Interesting doors
One of the greatest highlights of a walk down this street is the chance to see plenty of unusual and unique looking doors. If you want to snap the best photos with fewer people in them, then you should be sure to visit earlier in the day and mid-week if possible.
Many of the doors along this Parisian street have little metal or stone parts that project out of the door frame. These are called chasse-roues (translated into English as ‘Guard Stones’) and were installed to prevent damage to the wall/ door frame from tyres and wheels back when horse and carts were used on a regular basis.
Fontaine de Joyeuse
Though not the largest nor most historic of fountains in Paris, the Fontaine de Joyeuse depicts a small child holding a jug in his hand, with the water pouring into a basin that is in the shape of a shell. The fountain dates back to 1847 and was installed to replace an earlier water feature on site.
Le Mary Celeste
Though not technically located on the road itself, but on a side street that leads away from Rue de Turenne, Le Mary Celeste is a popular bar among locals and visitors alike. As well as an extensive wine list, there are plenty of delicious plates and cocktails on the menu.
Church of Saint-Denys-du-Saint-Sacrement
One of the more interesting buildings on the street is the church of Saint Denys, which is located in the 3rd arrondissement part of the street and dates back to 1826.
Named as an homage to the first Bishop of Paris (Saint Denis), highlights of the Neoclassical style church include a detailed carving on the front façade and 19th-century statues of saints by Jean-François Legendre-Héral.
