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Hanging Around Medieval Paris

Heretics burning before King Philip II of France. Gibbet of Montfaucon in the background. Illustration by Jean Fouquet (c. 1455-1460). Bibliothèque nationale de France, Paris. PD-100+ Wikimedia Commons.
Heretics burning before King Philip II of France. Gibbet of Montfaucon in the background. Illustration by Jean Fouquet (c. 1455-1460). Bibliothèque nationale de France, Paris. PD-100+ Wikimedia Commons.

The next time you’re in Paris, stop by 53, rue de la Grange aux Belles (10e). You’ll be standing in front of a garage with apartments built on top—sounds exciting, huh? Seven hundred or so years ago, this was a pretty scary site. You never wanted to end up here.

You are standing in an area that was once part of the countryside outside the medieval walls of Paris. Standing here, you would have had a pretty good view of the city. You’re on a hill (actually, more like a mound). The area we now call Montmartre would have been visible to you toward the northwest. Surrounding you would have been the leper colony of St. Lazare, the Convent of the Filles-Dieu (a home for prostitutes), and the original Hôpital Saint-Louis. Clearly, the king did not want any undesirable elements with the walls of his city.

Hanging Around

Gibet de Montfaucon. Drawing by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc (1856). PD-100+ Wikimedia Commons.
Gibet de Montfaucon. Drawing by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc (1856). PD-100+ Wikimedia Commons.

One of the monarch’s most undesirable icons stood in front of you. It was the Gibet de Montfaucon (Gibbet/Gallows of Montfaucon). Erected around the late 13th century, the gibbet was used until 1629 and finally dismantled in 1760. The structure was used to hang people and to display the bodies of the executed (both local and imported). There are written accounts of the executed being displayed here for more than three years before they were either posthumously exonerated or whatever remained of the body was turned over to the family.  Read More Hanging Around Medieval Paris

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Gibet de Montfaucon

7 Gibet de Montfaucon (Gibbet/Gallows of Montfaucon)

53, rue de la Grange aux Belles

Métro: Colonel Fabien

Hours: Not applicable—open to the public.

As you step out of the Metro, you should be facing Place du Colonel Fabien. Turn to your left and cross over Ave. Claude Vellefaux (on your left). The next street on your left will be Rue de la Grange aux Belles—turn left. Walk south until you arrive at no. 53 on your right.

You are standing in front of a garage with apartments built on top—exciting, huh? Seven hundred or so years ago, this was a pretty scary site. You never wanted to end up here.

Representation of the Gibet de Mondaucon. Engraving (1863) Author unknown. Public Domain. Wikimedia Commons. This image shows the rear of the gibbet. It is usually represented with a view from the front.
Representation of the Gibet de Mondaucon. Engraving (1863) Author unknown. Public Domain. Wikimedia Commons. This image shows the rear of the gibbet. It is usually represented with a view from the front.

You’re standing in an area that once was part of the countryside outside the medieval walls of Paris. Standing here, you would have had a pretty good view of the city since you’d be standing on a hill (actually, more like a mound). The hill we now call Montmartre would have been visible to you towards the northwest. Around you would have been the leper colony of St. Lazare, the Convent of the Filles-Dieu (a home for prostitutes), and the original Hôpital Saint-Louis (its modern counterpart is located to the southwest). It seems the king didn’t want any undesirable elements within the walls of the city.

One of the kings’ most undesirable icons stood in front of you. It was the Gibet of Montfaucon. Erected around the late 13th century, the gibbet was used until 1629 and finally dismantled in 1760. The structure was used to hang people and to display the bodies of the executed (both local and imported). There are accounts of the executed being displayed here for more than 3 years before they either exonerated or whatever remained of the body was turned over to the family. The gibbet erected on land once owned by Count Falco (Faucon). Since it was a hill or mound (Mont), the gibbet became known as Montfaucon. Its nickname was “Forks of the great justice.” The best description and image comes from a drawing by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc. It was an imposing 3-sided structure: 20 feet high, 46 feet long, and 39 feet wide. There were 45 “compartments” used to either hang or exhibit the victim’s bodies. Read More Gibet de Montfaucon