How long has Avenue de Touraine existed? The answer might surprise you. This unassuming Parisian street boasts a history stretching back to the late 17th century. Avenue de Touraine wasn’t always Avenue de Touraine. It was initially aligned with Rue du Paon a quite different street entirely. The name change? It’s all thanks to the Hotel de Tours a grand establishment once located on Rue du Paon. This impressive hotel lent its name to Avenue de Touraine.
Avenue de Touraine is located in the 11th arrondissement. It’s nestled in the Quartier de l’Ecole-de-Medecine. The street starts at Rue de l’Ecole-de-Medecine numbers 23 and 25 and ends at Rue Monsieur-le-Prince numbers 7 and 9. Avenue de Touraine is remarkably short only measuring 58 meters long. This short street also has a defined width. A ministerial decision in 1799 set its width at 8.50 meters.
Almost all buildings along Avenue de Touraine align perfectly. There is one exception. This is a property located on the odd-numbered side. It sits at the corner of Rue de l’Ecole-de-Medecine. It needs to be moved back about 80 centimeters. This small detail speaks volumes about the meticulous urban planning of the time. It also highlights the ongoing adjustments and refinements in even the oldest Parisian streets.
Avenue de Touraine might be small. Its history is vast. It’s a silent witness to centuries of Parisian life. Its name whispers stories of grand hotels. The subtle variations in its alignment speak of careful city planning. So next time you walk down Avenue de Touraine remember its humble origins. Remember it is part of a richer more complex history than meets the eye. Avenue de Touraine may be small but it’s full of rich and untold stories.