Was it named after the country? Not exactly. The Rue du Luxembourg whispers tales of French aristocracy and revolution. Today, we stand at the entrance of the Rue du Luxembourg in Paris. It is more than just a street. It is a corridor of time connecting us to pivotal moments in French history.
Once upon a time, the Count of Provence eyed his family’s Luxembourg Palace. He saw not grandeur but costly repairs. To ease the financial burden, he made a tough choice. He sold off a chunk of the palace gardens. Specifically, the western third.
From this sale, the Rue du Luxembourg was born in 1778. It stretched out from Rue Bonaparte and shared its name for a time. Eventually, it became the Rue du Luxembourg, defining the Luxembourg Garden’s western edge.
Interestingly, the Rue du Luxembourg wasn’t always called that. In 1918, it was renamed Rue Guynemer. This was to honor a fallen hero, the leader of the Escadrille des Cigognes. He died in Peolkapelle during the Great War.
The echoes of conflict resonate here. During World War I, a shell struck number 6 Rue du Luxembourg. It was launched by the infamous Grosse Bertha. That was on July 15, 1918.
The Luxembourg Palace itself has a rich history. Marie de Medici built it. She wanted a palace like the Palazzo Pitti in Florence. She bought the Hôtel de Luxembourg in 1612. Construction began in 1615. The palace became her major artistic project. Today, little remains of her original interiors.
Marie de Medici’s struggles and triumphs are depicted in a series of paintings. Peter Paul Rubens painted them. They once hung in the palace’s Galerie de Rubens. Now, they are in the Louvre.
The Luxembourg Palace has served many roles. It was once a museum. It even served briefly as a prison during the French Revolution. Napoleon Bonaparte resided here as First Consul.
Later, Jean Chalgrin transformed the palace into a legislative building. Alphonse de Gisors added a new garden wing in the 19th century. During the German occupation of France, Hermann Goring used the palace as his headquarters.
The Luxembourg Garden also has a long and interesting history. Marie de Médicis acquired it between 1614 and 1631. It has changed significantly over the centuries. In 1782, part of the garden was sold. This sale created the Rue de Luxembourg.
So, as you stroll along the Rue du Luxembourg, remember its story. It is a story of royal decisions. It is a story of war. It is a story of art and transformation. This street is a testament to the ever-evolving history of Paris.