Rue de Sontay

Gazing down Rue de Sontay, can you imagine a battle raging thousands of miles away influencing its very name? This seemingly quiet Parisian street in the 16th arrondissement carries a piece of Vietnamese history within its name. Rue de Sontay gets its name from Sơn Tây, a town in Tonkin, Vietnam. French forces captured Sơn Tây in December 1883, right before the Sino-French War. This victory resonated back to Paris, eventually leading to this street, originally named Rue Lefuel, being renamed in 1886. The Rue Lefuel name honored architect Hector Lefuel. But the echoes of the Tonkin campaign proved stronger. Rue de Sontay stretches 155 meters long and 15 meters wide. It starts at 6 Place Victor Hugo and ends at 174 Rue de la Pompe. This street is more than just a thoroughfare. It’s a tangible link to a pivotal moment in French colonial history. Now, as you stroll along Rue de Sontay, remember the distant battle that shaped its identity, a reminder that even the quietest streets can hold stories of far-off lands. Pause at number 2. A plaque marks the spot where General Louis-Gaston de Sonis passed away. Another plaque at number 6 commemorates the residence of writer René de Pont-Jest. These small details further enrich the story woven into the fabric of Rue de Sontay.