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

Histoire de Paris

Rue de la Ferronnerie
C’est ici que Ravaillac assassina Henri IV, le vendredi 14 mai 1610. Afin d’observer, rue Saint-Denis, les préparatifs de l’entrée de la reine Marie de Médicis, couronnée à Saint-Denis le dimanche, le roi quitta le Louvre dans son carrosse aux rideaux de cuir relevés. Dans un encombrement créé par l’accrochage de deux charrettes chargées de foin et de tonneaux de vin, Ravaillac profita de l’arrêt de la voiture pour poignarder le souverain. Rétrécie par les échoppes adossées au mur du cimetière des Innocents du côté pair, la rue de la Ferronnerie ne dépassait guère 4 mètres de large. Henri II avait, en vain, ordonné son élargissement en 1554: sa largeur ne fut portée à onze mètres qu’en 1669.

[Illustration of the assassination of King Henry IV]

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 describes the street where King Henri IV of France was murdered by an assassin on May 14, 1610.
Henry IV was one of the most popular kings of France, known for his concern for his people and his tolerant attitude towards religion.
This tolerance cost him his life when he was murdered by a fanatical Catholic assassin.

The place where the sign is placed was photographed on the same day Click for a larger image

The illustration in the center of the sign is shown here enlarged (The Assassination of the King) Click for a larger image

On the same street there is a sign on the ground indicating the place where the king was murdered Click for sign's details

Translation of the text on the sign:

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

History of Paris

Rue de la Ferronnerie
It was here that Ravaillac assassinated Henri IV on Friday May 14, 1610. In order to observe, rue Saint-Denis, the preparations for the entry of Queen Marie de Medici, crowned in Saint-Denis on Sunday, the king left the Louvre in his carriage with raised leather curtains. In a traffic jam created by the collision of two carts loaded with hay and barrels of wine, Ravaillac took advantage of the car stopping to stab the sovereign. Narrowed by the stalls leaning against the wall of the cemetery of the Innocents on the even side, the rue de la Ferronnerie was barely more than 4 meters wide. Henry II had, in vain, ordered its widening in 1554: its width was only increased to eleven meters in 1669.

[Illustration of the assassination of King Henry IV]