Once again, Louis Moinet has proved to be an exception to the rule. Having rediscovered its unique heritage, the Town of Bourges decided to give the name “Impasse Louis Moinet” to the street right next to the house where the famous watchmaker lived for many years – and invented the first chronograph in history. The renaming is being timed to mark the 250th anniversary of Louis Moinet’s birth in Bourges in 1768. In a symbolic gesture, the inauguration of the street will take place on June 21, the summer solstice. It’s a historic reminder of Louis Moinet’s observational astronomy, much of which was derived from his watchmaking art – not least the invention of the chronograph in 1816.
Impasse Louis Moinet runs perpendicular to Rue Moyenne, which is itself one of the historic streets in Bourges, leading to its famous Cathedral, with Impasse Louis Moinet less than 100 metres down the road.
Louis Moinet spent his youth in Rue de la Monnaie. From there, he went to study in Italy – a trip that forged his style and talent for painting and sculpture. He later returned to Bourges as a teacher at its School of Fine Arts. The Town has already installed a plaque bearing his name on the building that still houses the School of Fine Arts, two centuries on.
