Paris History Project : Rue Saint Denis

Location: Rue Saint Denis and corner of Rue des Halles. [Sign disappeared between February 2009 and July 2012]

English translation

"Named after the first bishop of Paris, Rue Saint-Denis follows the path of the Roman road from Lutetia to Saint-Denis, Pontoise and Rouen. Beginning at the Grand Châtelet, it was the most prestigious road. This was where kings entered after their coronation, and where they left to be buried at Saint-Denis. Triumphal arches were erected at the sovereigns' entrances, milk and wine flowed from public fountains, and platforms were set up at crossroads to host tableaux vivants and short plays. This triumphal route was lined with religious establishments, most of which no longer exist: the Église Sainte-Opportune and the Hôpital des Pauvres de Sainte-Opportune (renamed in the 16th century as the Hôpital Sainte-Catherine), the Église des Saints-Innocents, the Église du Saint-Sépulcre, the Abbaye Saint-Magloire (occupied in the late 16th century by the Filles Pénitentes and then by the Dames de Saint-Magloire), the Église Saint-Leu-Saint-Gilles, the Hôpital Saint-Jacques, the Hôpital de la Sainte-Trinité (transformed in 1545 into the Hospice des Enfants Bleus), the Église Saint-Sauveur, the Couvent des Filles-Dieu, and the Communauté des Filles de l’Union Chrétienne." (Translated by DeepL and ChatGPT)

Background notes

Saint Denis, the first bishop of Paris, is famous for his martyrdom in the 3rd century. According to legend, he was beheaded by the Romans on the Montmartre hill. Miraculously, after his execution, Denis is said to have picked up his head and walked several miles while preaching, before collapsing and dying at the site of his eventual burial in Saint-Denis. His martyrdom and miraculous walk have made him one of the most iconic saints of Paris.
Tableaux vivants (literally "living pictures") are theatrical representations in which actors or performers remain motionless, typically arranged to resemble a famous painting, scene, or historical event.
The religious establishments on Rue Saint Denis listed above:

Église Sainte-Opportune: A church dedicated to Saint Opportune which was an important religious centre in medieval Paris.
Hôpital des Pauvres de Sainte-Opportune: Initially a hospital for the poor, later renamed Hôpital Sainte-Catherine in the 16th century.
Église des Saints-Innocents: A church and cemetery that once stood near the Place du Châtelet, serving as a major site for public burials until its closure in the 1780s.
Église du Saint-Sépulcre: Church of the Holy Sepulchre, dedicated to the tomb of Christ, a common name for churches across Europe.
Abbaye Saint-Magloire: A former abbey, it was taken over in the late 16th century by the Filles Pénitentes (Penitent Sisters) and later transformed into a community for the Dames de Saint-Magloire, religious women who continued the abbey’s charitable mission.
Église Saint-Leu-Saint-Gilles: A church that stood in the heart of Paris, named after Saint Leu and Saint Gilles.
Hôpital Saint-Jacques: A medieval hospital dedicated to Saint James, specifically created to house pilgrims travelling to Santiago de Compostela.
Hôpital de la Sainte-Trinité: Hospital of the Holy Trinity, transformed in 1545 into the Hospice des Enfants Bleus, a charity for abandoned children who wore distinctive blue clothing, hence the name.

Église Saint-Sauveur: Church dedicated to Christ the Savior, found in the Saint-Denis area.
Couvent des Filles-Dieu: A convent of religious women, involved in charitable work.
Communauté des Filles de l’Union Chrétienne: A group of women committed to Christian social service.

Of those listed above, only Église Saint-Leu-Saint-Gilles remains on Rue Saint-Denis (see plaque 9).