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#ClemmiesParisStories #4: Nicolas Flamel. 1/11
Nicolas Flamel was a scribe, born circa 1330 around Pontoise, near Paris. He was a commoner, but a wealthy one, thanks in large part to his marriage to Pernelle, an older woman who had inherited her fortune from two previous marriages. 2/11
Some two centuries after his death, Flamel came to be associated with alchemy, with claims he had achieved immortality thanks to the philosopher's stone. These claims are referenced in Victor Hugo's The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, and of course in Harry Potter. 3/11
In fact, Flamel died in 1418, and none of the alchemical works later attributed to him seem to have actually had anything to do with him. 4/11
Nicolas and Pernelle didn't have any children to leave their wealth to, so instead they invested it, financing building work, mostly of a religious nature. Unfortunately, most of these buildings have since been demolished. 5/11
The Flamels' money financed repair and decoration works at several churches, including Saint-Jacques-la-Boucherie, of which only the tower, the Tour Saint-Jacques, remains, and Sainte-Geneviève-la-Petite, which once stood in front of the Notre-Dame. 6/11
After his wife's death, Nicolas also funded what today we might call social housing, constructing a number of houses for the poor. 7/11
One such building still stands, on the rue Montmorency in the 3rd arrondissement, and it is thought to be the oldest house in Paris. The inscription on the walls of the ground floor was restored in the early 20th century. 8/11
In 1999, Lebanese immigrant Alan Geaam arrived in Paris with a 7-day visa and 200 francs. After doing odd jobs for a while, he landed his first role as a chef. He quickly showed his talent, and in 2007 acquired his own restaurant: the Auberge Nicolas Flamel. 9/11
Geaam now owns two other restaurants, one of which was awarded a Michelin star in 2018. If you want to dine in the oldest house in Paris, the two-course lunch menu at the Auberge costs €23. 10/11
Meanwhile, two streets near the Tour Saint-Jacques are named after the couple, the rue Nicolas-Flamel and the rue Pernelle. 11/11
cc @irreductible_Em who was pestering me for another #ClemmiesParisStories and @noelle_nole1 who suggested a restaurant-themed thread.
These threads take some time, so if you enjoy it please like and share
These threads take some time, so if you enjoy it please like and share
