The Luxembourg Neighbourhood
In the novel, D'Artagnan is pleasantly surprised to discover that his lodgings on Rue des Fossoyeurs are close to the Hotel de Treville and all of his friends! How convenient! I've drawn up a map of the neighbourhood, but you can look at the larger google map here. Scroll down to read about these locations and view the videos.
D’Artagnan finds an apartment in the house of M. Bonacieux and his wife Constance at 14 Rue des Fossoyeurs (Grave Diggers Street) near the Luxembourg Palace. [#1 on the map] The street name has since been changed to Rue Sarvandoni after the French decorator and architect of that name who was born in 1695. (Oops – Dumas refers to this very street name in Chapter Eleven, which of course did not exist in the 17th century. I suppose the editors messed up!)
Athos' apartment is on Rue Férou – a few steps from the Luxembourg and around the block from D'Artagnan. He shares it with his lackey Grimaud, and ingenious man of few words. [#3 on the map]
Athos' apartment is on Rue Férou – a few steps from the Luxembourg and around the block from D'Artagnan. He shares it with his lackey Grimaud, and ingenious man of few words. [#3 on the map]
Checking out the distance from D'Artagnan's place to Athos'.
The Hotel de Treville on Rue du Vieux Columbier, headquarters of the King’s Musketeers – where D’Artagnan meets his friends to be (Athos, Porthos and Aramis) for the first time. The exact location is not mentioned, but it is a very short street. [#2 on the map] Note: we have since found out that there was an actual Musketeer Headquarters located at 15 Rue du Bac, just south of Pont Royale. This is visible on the Turgot Map.
Porthos (the giant) also has an apartment on Rue du Vieux Columbier, which he shares with his valet (lackey) Mousqueton. [#5 on the map]
Porthos (the giant) also has an apartment on Rue du Vieux Columbier, which he shares with his valet (lackey) Mousqueton. [#5 on the map]
The Luxemburg Palace was built by Maria Medici, wife of Henri IV (Louis VIII’s father) because the countryside reminded her of Tuscany. Behind the Luxemburg seems to be a very convenient place for dueling. [#6 on the map] The play has this as the place where D’Artagnan and Athos are to face off, with Aramis and Porthos as Athos’ seconds. The book has this taking place at the nearby Convent Carmes de’Chausses (or Charmes Deschaux), now the Catholic University of Paris. [#7 on the map]
In Chapter 5 of the book Athos and Porthos enjoy a tennis match here by the stables (the exact location of which I couldn’t find – perhaps you can?) while D’Artagnan and a wounded Athos watch. Also watching are some of the Cardinal’s Men, one of which (Bernajoux) wants to fight D’Artagnan to avenge the wounded Jussac. They fight and Bernajoux is seriously wounded. The scene escalates into a full on melee spilling out on the street Vaugirard and into Rue Ferou.
In Chapter 5 of the book Athos and Porthos enjoy a tennis match here by the stables (the exact location of which I couldn’t find – perhaps you can?) while D’Artagnan and a wounded Athos watch. Also watching are some of the Cardinal’s Men, one of which (Bernajoux) wants to fight D’Artagnan to avenge the wounded Jussac. They fight and Bernajoux is seriously wounded. The scene escalates into a full on melee spilling out on the street Vaugirard and into Rue Ferou.
Outside of 25 Rue Vaugirard
Aramis and his man Bazin are at 25 Rue Vaugirard – just down the street from the Luxembourg. [#4 on the map] This is also where D’Artagnan sees Constance exchanging handkerchiefs with another woman, after which he escorts her to her rendezvous on the Rue de la Harpe.
Next page. Around Ile de la Cite
Next page. Around Ile de la Cite