Montmartre in Paris in Département de Paris, Île-de-France, France — Western Europe

La Folie Sandrin

— Histoire de Paris —

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, April 12, 2025

1. La Folie Sandrin Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

En 1774, le sieur Sandrin acquiert, au coeur du village de Montmartre, une propriété d'un arpent et demi afin de s'y faire construire une luxueuse maison de campagne, ou "folie". Revendue à un marchand de vin en 1795, elle est transformée en clinique en 1806 par le docteur Prost, spécialiste des maladies mentales. Ce disciple de Pinel, en rupture avec la tradition qui maintenait les aliénés enchaînés dans les asiles, expérimente des traitements novateurs: "Le traitement moral est quelquefois plus efficace que les secours de l'art. Il faut être par caractère disposé à cette douce bienveillance, qui, ne se démentant jamais, inspire et fixe la confiance du malade et l'amène à faire sans effort ce qui convient à son état". Le succès ne tarde pas, surtout auprès d'une clientèle d'écrivains et d'artistes fatigués ou dépressifs, et le docteur Esprit Blanche reprend en 1820 un établissement déjà célèbre. Avec son épouse, animée des mêmes sentiments philanthropiques, il s'attache à faire mener une paisible vie de famille à ses pensionnaires. Le plus illustre, à partir de 1841, se nomme Gérard de Nerval: "Ici a commencé

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pour moi ce que j'appellerai l'épanchement du songe dans la vie réelle".

(English translation:)
In 1774, Mr. Sandrin acquired a one-and-a-half-acre property in the heart of the village of Montmartre in order to build a luxurious country house, or "folly." Sold to a wine merchant in 1795, it was transformed into a clinic in 1806 by Doctor Prost, a specialist in mental illness. This disciple of Pinel, breaking with the tradition that kept the insane chained in asylums, experimented with innovative treatments: "Moral treatment is sometimes more effective than the aid of art. One must be by nature disposed to this gentle benevolence, which, never failing, inspires and establishes the patient's confidence and leads him to do without effort what is appropriate to his condition." Success was not long in coming, especially among a clientele of tired or depressed writers and artists, and Doctor Esprit Blanche took over an already famous establishment in 1820. With his wife, driven by the same philanthropic sentiments, he strived to ensure that his boarders led a peaceful family life. The most illustrious, from 1841, was named Gérard de Nerval: "Here began for me what I would call the outpouring of dreams into real life."

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Science & Medicine.

La Folie Sandrin and marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, April 12, 2025

2. La Folie Sandrin and marker

In addition, it is included in the Histoire de Paris series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1774.

Location. 48° 53.227′ N, 2° 20.359′ E. Marker is in Paris, Île-de-France, in Département de Paris. It is in Montmartre. It is at the intersection of Rue Norvins and Rue Lepic, on the right when traveling west on Rue Norvins. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 22 Rue Norvins, Paris, Île-de-France 75018, France. Touch for directions.

Regionally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

Europe,

the European Union,

Atlantic Europe,

the Schengen Area,

Western Europe,

a coastal Mediterranean country,

and the Western World.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a French colony

and also the Roman Empire.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: La mire du Nord / The Northern Meridian Post (a few steps from this marker); La Bonne Franquette (within shouting distance of this marker); The Republic of Montmartre and Skadarlija - Twinning (within shouting distance of this marker); Le Tire-Bouchon Cabaret (within shouting distance of this marker); Le Consulat (within shouting distance of this marker); Jean-Baptiste Clément (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Picasso (about 90 meters away); Louis Renault (about 90 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Paris.

Also see . . . Montmartre and the Artists (Claudine Hemingway, July 18, 2022). Extract:

At 22 rue Norvins, La Folie Sandrin was built by Antoine Sandrin in 1774 and christened it the Palais Bellevue. Sandrin had made his fortune making candles
Photographed by G.C.A., Paris, circa 1900

3. Rue Norvins - looking east
The group of 3 women are standing where the marker is now.
and candlesticks and wanted a property that would cover the side of the hill. Sold in 1795 to a wine merchant that passed it on in 1806 to Doctor Prost who purchased it to turn it into an asylum. Proust treated the many artists of the hill and for those who couldn’t afford his service he took care of them for free. In 1875 Emilie de Lavalettte, niece of Josephine purchased it to create a home for maidens and in 1950 it was a school for girls. Today it has been turned into apartments although some are convinced it's haunted.

(Submitted on April 20, 2025.)

Additional keywords. panneau

Credits. This page was last revised on April 20, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 20, 2025, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 196 times since then and 45 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 20, 2025, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.