Faubourg Saint Honoré, an affluent district of Paris
The Faubourg Saint Honoré is one of the most prestigious neighbourhoods in Paris.
Renowned for its opulence and refinement, it is home to numerous embassies, ministries, and official buildings, including the prestigious Palais de l’Elysée, the official residence of the President of the French Republic, at No. 55 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré.
The Hôtel Beauvau, which now houses the Ministry of the Interior, is located opposite the Élysée Palace. Originally built in the late 18th century by the banker Beaujon, this private mansion was converted into a hospital during the French Revolution, and became the Prefecture of Paris after the hospital’s closure in 1930.
The Faubourg Saint Honoré boats numerous other architectural treasures, including the magnificent doors of the British Embassy (Nos. 35-37) and the entrance portal of the Hôtel Marbeuf (No. 31), both of which are listed as historical monuments.
It is also the epicentre of Parisian fashion and haute couture boutiques, jewellers, and art galleries, attracting a discerning clientele from around the world.
Faubourg Saint Honoré, a new district
The Faubourg Saint Honoré extends on both sides of the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré and Rue Saint-Honoré, spanning the 8th arrondissement and 1st arrondissement, two of the most upscale neighbourhoods in Paris.
The district began to take shape after the territorial reform of 1860, which redefined the boundaries of the city.
The 8th arrondissement, an aristocratic district boasting high-quality urban planning, emerged in the 18th and 19th centuries. Today, it is renowned for its magnificent private mansions, many of which are listed as historical monuments.
The 1st arrondissement, although one of the least populated in Paris, has the highest concentration of historical and cultural sites.
It is thus one of the most visited districts in the city, attracting visitors from all over the world.
Rue Saint Honoré, named after the millers’ patron saint
Rue Saint-Honoré was originally a modest dirt track connecting Rue de la Ferronnerie, near Les Halles, to Rue Royale and then on to the vast Rouvray Forest (Bois de Boulogne), which once covered the western side of Paris.
This simple dirt track was upgraded into a street in the 12th century with the creation of the Marché Saint-Honoré (Market). It thus became the main thoroughfare between the city centre, the Louvre fortress, and the villages to the west, and as a result, one of the most prosperous streets in Paris.
The eastern end of Rue Saint-Honoré, near Les Halles, was a district of artisans and merchants. A large communauty of millers and bakers built several windmills on the Saint-Roch Hill, which was later levelled to allow for the construction of the Church of Saint-Roch.
The street was named after Saint Honoré, the patron saint of the millers’ and bakers’ guild. This vibrant community of artisans and merchants flourished until the 17th century.
Rue Saint Honoré through the centuries
However, the western section of Rue Saint-Honoré, near the Louvre Palace, attracted wealthy Parisians, courtiers, and nobility.
This prestigious stretch began at the Porte Saint-Honoré, a fortified gate built by Philip-Augustus in the 12th century, located around what is now No. 145. It extended to the 14th-century rampart of Charles V, at the intersection of the street and the current Avenue de l’Opéra, near the Comédie Française.
The Rue Saint-Honoré was extended to Rue Royale, where the third Porte Saint-Honoré of the ramparts, built by Louis XIII in the 1630s, stood.
Beyond this gate it became a country road, Rue Neuve-Saint-Honoré, leading to the village of Roule.
In the 19th century, the Rue Saint-Honoré attracted a new generation of talented artisans whose names would become synonymous with luxury and elegance. Among them were renowned trunk makers such as Louis Vuitton and Lancel, the saddler Thierry Hermès, and the fashion designer Jeanne Lanvin.
Rue Neuve-Saint-Honoré was renamed Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré in 1702, when the area became a Parisian suburb. It extends to Place des Ternes in the 17th arrondissement.
Directions: 1st and 8th Districts
Metro: Palais-Royal-Musée du Louvre, Pyramides, Concorde, Madeleine, Saint-Philippe-du-Roule, Ternes
Coordinates: Lat 48.871192 – Long 2.315927
