Paris' Mysterious Rue du Chat-qui-Pêche
- Parisian Niche
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
Well, my summer trip to Paris is rapidly approaching, and I sooooo cannot wait to enjoy those late, late sunsets and enjoy playing le flâneur/flâneuse through town. It is, after all, how we discovered gems like rue du Nil, rue Mouffetard, and rue Montorgueil. And while perhaps not as colorful as the charming rue Crémieux, or the rue de Lévis, today, let's take a P'Niche peek at the mysterious rue du Chat-qui-Pêche...
While the P'Niche Time Travel Machine has us landed in the mid 14th century, (before the modern street numbering system) and we recognize that many people did not have the privilege of literacy. As such, many streets and buildings had plaques outside, describing what their business was. In this case, the street took its name in 1540 from a business of that same name - which translates to English as "Street of the Cat who Fishes." Seems legit right? RIGHT?
Now, you know P'Niche loves a good ghost tale (remember the Red Ghost of the Tuileries?)
So... what if I told you that this petite street (quite close to rue de la Colombe) ALSO has one heck or a sorcery tale to its lore? Ok, let's advance the P'Niche Time Travel Machine to the 1600s...
Enter one Monsieur Dom Perlet. Although he weas technically a man of the cloth, he had a tendency to dabble with the occult and alchemy (as one did back then). His trusted mascot was his pet - a slinky black cat. But not any black cat, mind you, this paw-fect friend was able to swipe up a fish (with the single swish of one paw) from the nearby Seine River.
Seems cool and harmless enough...what could go wrong, right? Right?
Ok, so get this...
Several people on the street were convinced that this cat's ability seemed a little too "sus" (as the cool kids say). They felt that Dom Perlet was actually a shapeshifter, practicing more than dark magic - changing places with the cat and deep in league with a demon or demonic presence - le gulp!
Enter three young school boys (let's call them Jacques, Paul, and Pierre - because why not)...
Jacques, Paul, and Pierre decided to take matters into their own child sized hands to rid their city of this wicked enchanted sorcerer. They managed to outwit and to capture the black cat and take his life. Moreover, they ensured the cat was truly dead and dumped his lifeless body into the rapid currents of la Seine. Mee-Ow!
At exactly the same time, Dom Perlet also disappeared - so clearly these kids had "gotten their man/cat" and cleaned up the streets of Paris. Well done, boys!
Wait for it... record scratch!
Soon after, the sorcerer, Perlet, reappeared and said he had just been "out of town" for a while. Wait...........
That same day, the black cat also reappeared along the Seine, taking one paw swipes for fish as though nothing had ever happened at all!
P'Niche would say "you just can't make this stuff up," but you can, and the story is very likely just a bit of fun folk lore - or is it?!!
We'll let you decide.
What we do know to be true --
La rue du Chat-qui-Pêche is Paris' narrowest street, clocking in in at a slim 1,80 meters - just about 6 feet.
Many people can use their natural "wingspan" to touch both sides of the street - it's a great image and keepsake...
Want to visit this charmingly dark street for yourself? Fun!
The easiest way is to stop at:
Métro: Cité (Line 4)
It branches off from rue de la Huchette and can also be reached by foot - a quick dash over from Notre Dame Cathedral and just a hop, skip, jump (and paw swipe?) away from the River Seine...
So what do you say, P'Nicher, do you believe the dark and torrid tales of the street or just laugh it off in good old Parisian fun and plan to visit yourself? Let us know in the comments below et à bientôt!
I so wish I lived on such a charmingly named street. merci for another gem!
What a fun and interesting article! And I love the pic you took!