Timeline

Heritage classified

Origin and history

The building, located at 51 rue de la Montagne-Sainte-Geneviève in the 5th arrondissement of Paris, dates from the late 18th century or early 19th century. It is distinguished by its proximity to the church of Saint-Étienne-du-Mont, an emblematic place of the neighborhood. Its construction is part of a period of urban transformation in which reporting buildings multiply to meet the growth of the Paris population.

The shop's grid, a remarkable element of the building, is decorated with a gold medallion representing a saint figure, possibly surrounded by a laurel crown. This decorative detail reflects the influence of neoclassical or neo-Renaissance styles in vogue at the time. On-street facades and roofs were inscribed in the Historical Monuments by order of 6 February 1964, while the grid was further protected on 23 May 1984.

The exact address of the building, according to the Merimée base, is 51 rue de la Montagne-Sainte-Geneviève, although GPS coordinates suggest a location close to 18 rue Saint-Étienne-du-Mont. This disparity illustrates the challenges of precision in heritage documentation, particularly for buildings in narrow and winding streets such as the Latin Quarter.

The 5th arrondissement, the historical and intellectual heart of Paris, is home to many protected buildings. At the end of the 18th and early 19th centuries, this area was marked by a social mix, housing both artisans, bourgeois and religious institutions. The buildings of this time, often constructed of stone, reflect this diversity by their sober yet elegant decorations, adapted to a changing neighbourhood.

The inscription of the building as a Historic Monument underlines its architectural interest and its role in the Parisian urban landscape. The successive protections (1964 and 1984) show a desire to preserve specific elements, such as the facades and the grid, which embody the craftsmanship and aesthetic tastes of their time.

Today, the building is integrated into a rich heritage environment, between the Sainte-Geneviève mountain and the cobbled streets of the Latin Quarter. Although its exact location is controversial (between official addresses and GPS data), it remains a representative example of the Parisian civil architecture of the transition between the 18th and 19th centuries.

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