“Michel-Ange” echoes through the ages a name synonymous with artistic genius. But what does Michelangelo have to do with this particular street, the Voie Michel-Ange, in Paris? This street in the 16th arrondissement pays homage to Michelangelo. Michelangelo was the Italian sculptor, painter, and architect.
The Rue Michel-Ange begins at 53, Rue d’Auteuil. It ends at 8, Place de la Porte-de-Saint-Cloud. The street stretches 1,156 meters. It has a width of 20 meters.
The street’s namesake Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni lived from 1475 to 1564. A decree officially named the street Rue Michel-Ange. This decree happened on March 2, 1880.
Several metro stations serve the Rue Michel-Ange. These include Porte de Saint-Cloud. Exelmans is another station. Michel-Ange Molitor also serves the street. Michel-Ange Auteuil completes the list. Lines 9 and 10 serve Michel-Ange Molitor and Michel-Ange Auteuil.
Along the Rue Michel-Ange, notable buildings mark the landscape. At number 2 bis, the Auteuil sub-station stands. This building houses a transformer. It converts electricity for the Paris Metro’s needs. Number 3 hosts an entire real estate complex. Six buildings accommodate the CNRS administration.
Joseph Joffre, a military officer resided at number 6. He lived there from 1909 to 1919. A commemorative plaque honors him. Number 6 bis once housed the École Normale Israélite Orientale. It also held the library of the Alliance Israélite Universelle. Today, the site is home to the Alliance-Gustave-Leven elementary school.
At number 8, the family of writer Michel Leiris settled. They made their home here from 1904. Number 12 houses the Notre-Dame-des-Oiseaux private Catholic school. Cyclist André Leducq lived at number 19. A plaque commemorates his life. Sociologist Georges Sorel lived at number 23 for some years. He stayed until 1895.
Numbers 25-27 once featured two Neo-Renaissance townhouses. They were erected in 1880. Number 25 is now gone. A modern building replaced it. However, number 27 still stands. Jacques Hillairet noted the presence of the Marie-Réparatrice convent at number 27.
Journalist and economist Dimitri Navachine resided at number 28. Numbers 29-33 house the Marie-Réparatrice convent. In the 1970s, Jacques Hillairet noted a Russian Catholic church. It was the Church of the Holy Trinity at number 31. Architect Jean Ginsberg constructed the building at number 38 in 1968-1969. It sits on the corner of Rue Molitor. Number 51 houses a public elementary school. Jacques Hillairet mentioned the French Orthodox Church at number 65. It was the Apparition-de-la-Sainte-Vierge. Today, a modern building stands there.
Pierre Brossolette was born at number 77 bis in 1903. A plaque honors him. Writer Lucien Descaves died at number 82 in 1949. Number 95 is the location of the Henry-Dunant hospital. The original hospital was built in 1895. Marguerite Moret, a former resistant, died there in 1974. Number 98 has been home to the Europe Démocratie Espéranto France party since 2005. Singer Barbara settled at number 112. She moved there after her mother’s death in 1967. She composed “L’Aigle noir” there. The Rassemblement National has been headquartered at number 114 bis since 2021.
The Voie Michel-Ange is more than just a street. It is a journey through time. It has connections to art, culture, and history.