1 - Verlaine, broken heart and cursed poets at number 17
It is here, at 17 rue de la Roquette, that Paul Verlaine set his bags down between 1882 and 1883. Torn apart by his break with Arthur Rimbaud, he hangs out in the local cafés, drinks heavily, and writes a legendary piece: Les Poètes maudits. It is in this small apartment in the 11th that the expression is born, one that will leave its mark on French literature.
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2 - The fountain that quenched the entire district
At number 70 stands the very charming La Roquette fountain, built in 1846 and classified as a historical monument. Fed by the Saint-Martin Canal, it used to supply water to the entire Saint-Antoine district. During its restoration in 2009, even fake trees were painted behind it to remind everyone of the area's once pastoral charm. It seems that La Roquette has always been thirsty… but not just for spritz!
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3 - The healer with the "magnetic fluid" who drew crowds
At number 80, the buildings may not look impressive, but at the end of the 19th century, people came from all over Paris to see Auguste Henri Jacob, also known as "the Zouave Jacob". This self-proclaimed healer claimed to cure ailments with a mysterious fluid that flowed from his hands. Between fascination and charlatanism, the street buzzed with the "miracles" of this very popular magnetizer.
4 - Gordon Ramsay, 22 m² and heartbreak at Place de la Bastille
Just next door, at number 83, a young Gordon Ramsay lived in a 22 m² studio from 1986 to 1989. He was then a trainee in haute cuisine... and apparently also experiencing some romantic woes. The celebrity chef will later share...It was said that a certain Chantal had broken his heart at the Place de la Bastille. Nothing like a little Parisian heartache to add some spice to a career.
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5 - Where the guillotine used to stand, between numbers 166 and 168
A bit less fun but totally fascinating: five stones mark the exact location of the guillotine from the former La Roquette prison, used until 1899. These indentations served &stabilize the machine. The prison was demolished and replaced by a square in 1977, but the street retains the memory of this dark… and very sharp past.
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