Maletache Street

There’s nothing really special to see here, but allow me to tell you a little story: the street to your right, rue Maletache, was the starting point of the great fire of 1463, which devoured three-quarters of the city. It was formerly known as rue Sesquières, as the sesquiers lived there. If the word “sesquiers” doesn’t ring a bell, don’t sweat it! They’re chair-bottommers. In any case, the fire didn’t start in a chair-bottomer’s shop, but in a bakery at the corner of rue de Languedoc. The fire, fanned by the south-westerly wind, was indomitable for over 15 days! The poor baker responsible, who neither died in the fire nor of guilt, found himself sentenced to death! He was eventually pardoned by Louis the 16th, as if that made any difference! After the sesquiers, the street was occupied by second-hand clothes sellers and became known as Mal Tache which translates to “Bad Stain”, probably in reference to the stain remover they were using.