Ruelle des Chats et Cour du Mortier d'Or

In 2014, Troyenne's most emblematic street was enriched by the addition of three new timber-framed houses, recreated from scratch using old postcards and period engravings.

Proof that history is an eternal restart, and that Troyes hasn't yet revealed all its secrets!
This street is so named because, it is said, cats can jump from one roof or attic to another, so close are the houses to each other. The houses are so close to each other that props prevent them from tipping completely over towards each other.

Rue Maillard in the 15th c. its inhabitants soon got into the habit of calling it "ruelle des Chats", which became its official name: "the roofs, by dint of contemplating each other for centuries, have been taken with mutual tenderness... The cats can pass from one attic to the other without risking making a false step".

Paved in the old-fashioned way, as were the streets of Troyes from the 13th century onwards, the ruelle des chats has a central gutter, as was customary at the time: the privileged "held the top of the pavement" so as not to get dirty. Dark but charming, it leads to the pretty Mortier d'Or courtyard, where you can see the back of the timber-framed houses, with their beautiful courtyard galleries. The ends of the beams are carved with subjects often inspired by war. The whole complex was restored in 1981 by the Compagnons du Devoir.
Note also the antique lighting. As early as 1534, the City Council decided to light Troyes with tallow candles in lanterns during the Champagne fairs.
By 1766, there were 150 public lanterns lit in winter in the main streets. Tallow gave way to oil in 1800, then to gas in 1842, and electricity arrived in the early 20th c.
Rue du Mortier d'Or was part of today's rue des Quinze-Vingts. It owes its name to the house at no. 3 owned by the Quinze-Vingts hospice, founded in Paris by King St. Louis for 300 knights returning from the Crusades with their eyes gouged out: the hospice then had 15 rooms with 20 beds each.
Next to the courtyard of the Mortier d'Or, at n°25 de la ruelle des Chats, the beautiful green timber-framed house was built in the 16th century for Pierre Mauroy, Seigneur de Colaverdey, mayor of Troyes from 1517 to 1521 and a relative of Jean Mauroy, whose restored mansion houses the nearby Maison de l'Outil et de la Pensée Ouvrière.

Last updated on 17/11/2023 - Troyes La Champagne Tourisme