[An illustration of a ship, symbolizing the symbol of Paris]

Histoire de Paris

Hôtels de M^lle Mars et M^lle Duchesnois
Au n°1 de la rue, se trouve l’hôtel de Mademoíselle Mars. II fut construit en 1746 et appartint, entre autres, à François Mahé de la Bourdonnais, gouverneur aux Indes, au navigateur Louis-Antoine de Bougaínville, au maréchal d’Empire Gouvion Saint-Cyr. Profondément modifié par Constantin en 1822, Mademoiselle Mars l’acheta en 1824 et le fit modifier par Visconti. Comédienne célèbre du Théâtre-Français, devenue riche, elle occupa cet hôtel jusqu’en 1838. En 1840, l’hôtel fut racheté par le Comte de Wagram, époux de Charlotte Clary, qui modifia la décoration intérieure. Une verrière gravée porte encore leurs initiales. Au n°3, Mademoiselle Duchesnois, tragédienne, fit construire en 1822 cet hôtel par Constantin. Elle fit de cet endroit le rendez-vous des gens de lettres; Victor Hugo le fréquenta. Sa rivale de la Comédie-Française, Mademoiselle Georges, l’obligea a quitter le, théatre en 1833, et elle dut vendre son hôtel un an plus tard.

One of the series of signs describing historical places in Paris. The signs were placed starting in 1992 and are also called sucettes Starck (Starck’s Lollipops) after Philippe Starck who designed them.

The sign depicts the houses of the actresses Joséphine Duchesnois and Mademoiselle Mars (Anne Françoise Hyppolyte Boutet Salvetat)

The houses were photographed that day:
Mademoiselle Mars (house number 1) Click for a larger image
Mademoiselle Duchesnois (house number 3) Click for a larger image

Both houses are designated as historical heritage sites of France (no sign indicating this was found)

Translation of the text on the sign:
[An illustration of a ship, symbolizing the symbol of Paris]

History of Paris

The houses of Miss Mars and Miss Duchesnois
At number 1 of the street is Mademoiselle Mars’ hotel. It was built in 1746 and belonged, among others, to François Mahé de la Bourdonnais, governor of the Indies, to the navigator Louis-Antoine de Bougaínville, to the Marshal of the Empire Gouvion Saint-Cyr. Deeply modified by Constantin in 1822, Mademoiselle Mars bought it in 1824 and had it modified by Visconti. Famous actress of the Théâtre-Français, who became rich, she occupied this hotel until 1838. In 1840, the hotel was bought by the Count of Wagram, husband of Charlotte Clary, who modified the interior decoration. An engraved glass roof still bears their initials. At No. 3, Mademoiselle Duchesnois, tragedian, had this hotel built in 1822 by Constantin. She made this place the meeting place for people of letters; Victor Hugo frequented him. Her rival at the Comédie-Française, Mademoiselle Georges, forced her to leave the theater in 1833, and she had to sell her hotel a year later.