THE RABELAIS HOUSE
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The house of Rabelais, a former gothic mansion given to the Knights of Malta to become the Saint-Genest chapel
At the corner of rue d'Enfer and rue Jurue nestles a building with a rich past. Built in the 12th century, this former Gothic mansion was handed over to the Knights of Malta in 1565 and later became the chapel of Saint-Genest. But the building is best known for its neighboring house, home to the illustrious Rabelais, who stayed here from 1542 to 1547. He is said to have prepared for the annexation of France in 1552 on the orders of Henri II. Only the gates at the far end of the garden have survived from this period. What's more, it's a shame that this historic landmark is not open to visitors today. As you walk past the chapel, in the middle of this maze of narrow streets, the most imaginative of you won't be able to help but think of the writer's Pantagruel, in which he not only uses the local dialect, but also quotes the "hydeux et terrible... Graoully", the dreadful dragon that terrorized the city of Messina. Today, the terrace of this acute-angled building serves as the terrace of the Carissimi pizzeria in summer: a certain way of enjoying the place..
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