“Lost in translation” could describe the story of Avenue Jean Mermoz before it even got its name. This Parisian street, a little over 300 meters long, wasn’t always Avenue Jean Mermoz.
Originally, it was named Rue Montaigne in 1804. It paid tribute to Michel de Montaigne. To avoid confusion with the avenue Montaigne, its name was changed in 1937.
But who was Jean Mermoz? He was no philosopher. Jean Mermoz was a celebrated aviator. He was a legend of the Aéropostale. This was the French airmail service. Mermoz tragically disappeared over the Atlantic in 1936 at only 34 years old. His loss was felt deeply across France. It was viewed as a national tragedy.
Avenue Jean Mermoz begins at the Rond-point des Champs-Élysées-Marcel-Dassault. It concludes at the Rue du Faubourg-Saint-Honoré. The street is served by metro lines 1 and 9 at the Franklin D. Roosevelt station.
In 1790, Charles-Philippe d’Artois owned a large plot of land. It was once part of the Colisée. This was a pleasure establishment that existed from 1771 to 1780. During the French Revolution, the land was seized. It was sold as national property. A new street was laid out on part of this land. This became Rue Montaigne.
Originally, the street’s width was set at 14.4 meters. A later decision reduced it to 10.8 meters. Back in 1830, near Rue Rabelais, were the stables of the Duke of Orléans.
Avenue Jean Mermoz has seen its share of notable residents and events. At number 2, the Hôtel Meyerbeer was located. The composer Giacomo Meyerbeer died there in 1864. Around 1920, the clown Footit ran a bar at number 6. The stables of the Duchess of Berry were situated at numbers 9 to 19.
Léon Gambetta lived at number 12 from 1871 to 1878. A modern building now stands on this site. A triple murder occurred at number 17. The victims were Marie Régnault, her maid Marie Grémeret, and Grémeret’s 9-year-old daughter. Henri Pranzini was found guilty. He was executed for these crimes. This gruesome story deeply affected France.
In the 1920s, the Galerie Montaigne was located at number 19. It showcased works by artists like Yves Alix and Raoul Dufy. Number 20 holds a special place in history. In 1972, it became the first building in the world to have a digicode. Émile de Marcère, a politician, lived at number 25 in 1910.
In 1955, the Hôtel Elysées-Mermoz opened at number 30. In 2022, it was renamed “Nuage”. Even celebrities like Alain Delon and Dalida lived in a hotel on this street early in their careers.
If you’re feeling peckish, consider Le Mermoz. This “neo-bistro” serves a daily changing menu. Chef Manon Fleury creates vegetable-leaning dishes.
So, as you stroll down Avenue Jean Mermoz, remember its layered past. From pleasure grounds to aviation legends, this street has stories etched into every stone.