La Rue de Berthollet

A little over a week ago I moved into my host family’s apartment situated in la rue de Berthollet in the 5th arrondissement of Paris. This street, while it may not be in the center of all the hustle and bustle of Paris, is an ideal location because of its proximity to other landmarks in the area. For example, my apartment is only a twenty minute walk to the Alliance Francaise every morning as well as a less than ten minute walk to the Gobelin metro line 7. Additionally, the beautiful Jardin du Luxembourg, lined with running paths and picturesque foliage, is less than a mile away from me.

After some research on the origins of my street name, I found out that rue de Berthollet was named after Claude-Louis Berthollet, a prominent French chemist during the 18^th century. Berthollet was born in Talloires, a city located in south-eastern France near the borders of Italy and Switzerland. He studied medicine at the University of Turin as well as the University of Paris throughout the 1770s.

In 1784, Berthollet began working at the Gobelin tapestry works which was known as the Manufacture Royale des Meubles de la Couronne.  This factory was established by Jean-Baptiste Colbert, the minister of finance under Louis XIV, and was focused on producing tapestries and furniture      for the Royal Court. Berthollet was in charge of managing the dyes for the                                                                tapestries at this factory.

        

His role at the factory consequently sparked interest in applied chemistry in areas such as bleaching agents, steel and gunpowder. Berthollet was most successful in uncovering a new technique for preparing gunpowder through the use of potassium chlorate. During the French Revolution, France used Berthollet’s process to help with ammunition. Berthollet was well respected by others in France and was considered “an early champion in France of the value of chemical theory in the enhancement of industrial processes.”

My Thoughts of Paris So Far...

During my time so far in Paris, I have had to become accustomed to navigating without my loyal Google Maps app; which I rely on habitually to find everything back in the States. While it is frustrating at times to not know for sure where you are, it makes the journey to your location even more of an adventure. It is also during these times that you stumble upon the best boulangeries, crêperies and boutiques that you never would have found before if you had a specific destination in mind. It is during these moments of spontaneity and impulsivity that my friends and I have discovered our favorite macaron place as well as a multitude of restaurants within a close proximity to our school.

Spontaneity and impulsivity are adjectives that usually do not describe me; I am a person defined by structure, plans and lists. However, in Paris one acquires these traits merely by walking down the streets and boulevards filled with history dating back hundreds of years. Seeing monuments, churches and interesting architecture on a daily basis is one thing that I love about this city. You can discover something new every day which is something that is not present at home in Chicago.