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8 Rue des Orfèvres |
Location: Corner of Rue des Orfèvre and Rue Saint-Germain-l-Auxerrois
English Translation
"Close to royal power, the district between the Châtelet and the church of Saint-Germain l'Auxerrois has long been the domain of precious metals. Until 1774, the king's coins were minted in the rue de la Monnaie [street of the Mint]. As for the rue des Orfèvres [street of the Goldsmiths], it was reserved for the shops of this profession, one of the first six merchant bodies in Paris. A treasure trove, it was closed every evening by gates at both ends, earning it the name rue des Deux-Portes [street of the Two Gates]. The wealthy goldsmiths' guild had its chapel rebuilt between 1551 and 1566 by Philibert de l'Orme. Germain Pilon created the sculptures for this Renaissance masterpiece, which was destroyed at the end of the 18th century." (Translated with DeepL)- The chapel was named after Saint-Éloi, the patron saint of goldsmiths. Saint Éloi was a historical figure from the 7th century who was a goldsmith before becoming a bishop of Noyon (in northern France) and a trusted adviser to King Dagobert I (a Frankish king of the Merovingian dynasty).
- The six merchant bodies were historically the most prestigious guilds in medieval Paris. They included: Drapers (cloth merchants), Mercers (dealers in textiles and luxury goods), Grocers, Furriers (fur artisans and merchants), Leather merchants, and Goldsmiths (orfèvres).
- Before 1551, there was an earlier chapel dedicated to Saint Éloi built by Parisian goldsmiths in 1399. This earlier structure stood on Rue des Orfèvres and gave its name to the street as "Rue de la Chapelle-aux-Orfèvres”.
- What remains today at no. 8 Rue des Orfèvres includes some elements of the original façade of the chapel.
- Also see plaque #1 on Quai des Orfèvres.