Avenue des Vignes. Does the name suggest vineyards to you? It should.
Here on Avenue des Vignes, we’re walking a path steeped in Parisian history. This street in the 16th arrondissement tells a story of transformation. It runs for 490 meters. It begins at 72, Rue Raynouard. It ends at 13, Avenue Mozart.
Back in the 16th century, this was a different place. The Avenue des Vignes was once just a small path. It was called Ruelle Saint-Pol. This path skirted the edge of the chateau seigneurial de Passy.
By 1730, the path had a new name. It was called Chemin des Vignes. This road connected Rue Basse to La Muette. Rue Basse is now Rue Raynouard. The Avenue des Vignes linked important places.
The city of Paris officially recognized the street. This happened in 1863. It was briefly named Rue Houdon in 1875. But in 1877, the street received its current name. The name Avenue des Vignes recalls the vineyards that once flourished here. This area was known for wine production in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Today, Avenue des Vignes is home to notable buildings. Number 2 is a side entrance to the Lycée Saint-Jean-de-Passy. The Théâtre Le Ranelagh is at number 5.
At number 32, a plaque honors composer Gabriel Fauré. He lived here from 1911 until his death in 1924. Hélène Miropolsky, a lawyer, lived at number 34. She passed away here in 1976.
Édouard Bénédictus, a chemist, died at number 73. A plaque commemorates him. Painter Louis Anquetin lived at number 75 from 1906.
Interestingly, number 85 is a fictional address. It appears in the film Le Grand Blond avec une chaussure noire. The French secret service supposedly occupies an apartment here.
So, as you stroll along Avenue des Vignes, remember its past. It was once a path through vineyards. Now, it is a street filled with history and culture. From a secret service hideout in cinema, to famous inhabitants, to vineyards, this street has much to tell.