Turn your head and you’ll find yourself facing a street with a name you may well know from the annals of history. Rue de l’Aisne has a story to tell, a tale of a humble river, a changing city, and a prince with a name that almost got lost in the shuffle. This quiet street, nestled in the 19th arrondissement, holds a surprising connection to the past. It speaks of a time when Paris was reshaped and streets took on new identities.
Rue de l’Aisne was initially known as Rue d’Aumale. Why, you might wonder, was the street named after a prince? Well, this Rue d’Aumale was a tribute to Henri d’Orléans, the Duke of Aumale. But in the 19th century, Paris was undergoing a radical transformation. The city was growing, new streets were being built and existing streets were being renamed. Our street, the Rue d’Aumale, was no exception. Since there was another Rue d’Aumale elsewhere in the city, a change was needed.
The street’s new name, Rue de l’Aisne, honors the namesake of a river nestled among the hillsides of northern France. The Aisne, a winding ribbon of water, joins the Oise and flows into the Seine. While the river may be far removed from the bustling streets of Paris, its name serves as a reminder of France’s diverse landscape. This quiet street, with its simple name, links you to a humble river and a history of change.