Rue de Verneuil

Let’s explore Rue de Verneuil, a quiet haven in the heart of the bustling 7th arrondissement of Paris. This street, named after Henri de Bourbon-Verneuil, a son of King Henri IV, carries a weight of history dating back to 1640. Rue de Verneuil is perhaps most famously known as the home of the legendary French singer and songwriter Serge Gainsbourg, who graced this street from 1969 until his death in 1991. The iconic house at 5 bis rue de Verneuil, forever etched in musical memory, now stands as a museum, preserving his legacy. It wasn’t always a celebrated shrine though. When Gainsbourg moved in, fans, eager to pay tribute, plastered the wall with graffiti much to the chagrin of the quiet neighborhood. But it was a testament to his influence and the profound impact he had on French culture. Rue de Verneuil, while seemingly ordinary, holds within its walls some remarkable tales. Look carefully at the address number 33, as it once housed Juliette Gréco, the French singer who inspired Gainsbourg to write his legendary song, La Javanaise. A quiet street, a famous resident, and a song inspiring a generation – Rue de Verneuil, just like its resident, is full of contradictions and whispers of a vibrant past.