Rue des Rosiers – Rosebushes St
Rue des Rosiers is located in the heart of the Parisian Jewish quarter, in the historic Marais district.
It replaces the old path that ran along the inside of the ramparts built at the end of the 12th century by King Philip-Augustus.
Historical texts indicate that this part of the ramparts was adorned with rose bushes, hence the street’s name, which means “Rosebushes Street”.
A beautifully restored tower and a segment of the ramparts are still visible within the Jardin Rosiers-Joseph Migneret, a discreet public garden accessible at No. 10.
The current layout of Rue des Rosiers dates from the mid-19th century. Indeed, an old dead end, the Impasse Coquerelle, which formerly connected Rue Ferdinand-Duval and Rue Pavée, was then opened to improve traffic flow and accessibility to Rue Rosiers.
Rue des Rosiers – Le Pletz
Paris has been home to a Jewish community for twenty century, since the Roman era.
However, the community suffered periods of controversy, intolerance, as well as recurring episodes of mistrust and discrimination throughout the Middle Ages.
In 1394, King Charles VI even issued a decree forbidding them from residing in the kingdom of France, which led to the forced sale of their property and their expulsion from the territory.
The Jewish community began to reappear in France between 1881 and 1914, fleeing persecution in Germany, Romania, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and Russia.
Around 20,000 Ashkenazi Jews thus sought refuge in Paris during this period, settling in the old Jewish Quarter, which they called Le Pletzl (Place).
Restaurant Goldenberg
On August 9, 1982, the Restaurant Goldenberg, at No. 7, was the scene of a tragic anti-Semitic attack.
A shooting, known as the Fusillade de la Rue des Rosiers, left 6 dead and 22 wounded. The Abu Nidal’s Fatah Revolutionary Council was initially accused of being responsible for the attack.
However, further investigations suggested that the perpetrators might have been Caucasians. Despite efforts to solve the case, it remains unsolved to this day. For years, the building bore the scars of the attack, with bullet impacts still visible on the walls.
The restaurant was sold in 2006 and converted into a clothing store, but its facade was restored to its original appearance.
Like most streets in the capital, the Rue des Rosiers is evolving and losing its traditional shops in favour of clothing and fashion stores.
Hammam Saint-Paul
Rue des Rosiers may not have many remarkable architectural monuments, but its charm lies in its picturesque pedestrian atmosphere.
Although it is still lined with Jewish grocery stores, bakeries and libraries, a gradual transition is taking place with the arrival of fashion boutiques.
One of its iconic buildings is the Hammam Sauna Saint-Paul, at No. 4. This establishment, built in 1863, enjoyed immense popularity for many decades.
However, with the advancement of the 20th century and the appearance of private bathrooms in apartments, it lost its appeal and became obsolete.
You can’t miss its superb, distinctive pink facade, as it stands out from the neighbouring white buildings.
A private vocational school, founded in 1852 and formerly housed in the building of the “Society for the Patronage of Jewish Apprentices and Workers of Paris“, is at No. 4bis.
A commemorative plaque on its facade pays tribute to the director, staff and students who died in concentration camps during World War II.
Further on, at No. 23, you will discover the magnificently restored facade of an 18th-century private mansion.
Continuing towards the corner of Rue Ferdinand-Duval, you will find one of the Jewish bookstores in the area. This street, called Rue des Juifs from 1500 to 1900, is lined with old houses.
Synagogue de la Rue des Rosiers
You will find a modest synagogue at No. 17.
However, when Parisians talk about the synagogue on Rue des Rosiers, they are usually referring to the more imposing building located at No. 10 Rue Pavée.
Designed by Hector Guimard, the great master of Art Nouveau in France, the Agoudas Hakehilos synagogue (Union of Communities) is thus also known as the Guimard synagogue.
This impressive synagogue was commissioned by the Ashkenazi community of Paris in 1913 to serve the large Jewish community that had found refuge in the capital between 1881 and 1914. Although partially destroyed during the Second World War, it has been rebuilt and restored to its original state, and was officially listed as a historical monument on June 4, 1989.
Related article: We visited the nearby Museum of Jewish Art and History for you.
Directions: 4th District
Metro: St-Paul on Line 9
Coordinates: Lat 48.857069 – Long 2.359625
