Rue du Château

Get ready for a climb: Rue du Château takes you uphill and back through history at the same time! Its story begins on September 6, 1560, when a new street was laid out over the former northern moat of the fortress. At first, it was simply called Rue Neuve, or “New Street.” Plots of land were then sold on both sides, and over the following decades, houses gradually replaced the old military defenses. A century later, the street was fully built up and became known as Rue du Château. There’s a certain irony to it: the street only exists because the castle disappeared, yet today it still keeps the castle’s memory alive. We’ll come back to that old fortress a little later. As you make your way uphill, remember to look up. The street brings together several centuries of architecture, with stone houses standing alongside a few surviving half-timbered facades, easy to spot by their exposed beams and upper floors that jut slightly out over the street. On one of them, an inscription tells us that the house was built in 1608 by George Gareau and his wife. The house even speaks for itself: “In May 1608, George Gareau and his wife had me built.” It’s a pretty elegant way to sign your work and make sure your name survives for centuries! During the French Revolution, the street was briefly renamed Rue de la Montagne, probably in reference to the Montagnards, the revolutionary political group that sat on the highest benches in the Assembly. So despite the steep climb, the name had nothing to do with the hill! Today, the street is lined with shops, galleries, and workshops, so take your time, wander a little, and step inside if something catches your eye.