“Why Roosevelt?” someone asks and it’s a fair question. The Avenue Franklin-D.-Roosevelt unfolds before us. It is more than just a street. It’s a testament to Franco-American camaraderie.
This grand avenue in Paris’s 8th arrondissement whispers tales of transformation. It started as a simple dirt path in 1696. Imagine a far cry from the elegant boulevard we see today.
In 1723 the Duke of Antin embellished the path. He transformed it into an allée. For years it was known by different names. It was called allée du Cours then allée du Roule. Later it was named allée d’Antin and then avenue d’Antin.
Until 1918 it was avenue d’Antin. For a brief period from 1918 to 1945 it honored Victor Emmanuel III.
But after World War II a change was needed. The avenue was renamed in 1945. It honored Franklin Delano Roosevelt. He was the US president who had just died. He was also a key ally during the war.
The Avenue Franklin-D.-Roosevelt stretches impressively. It begins near the Seine. The avenue starts at the Place du Canada. It ends in front of the Église Saint-Philippe-du-Roule. It is nearly 900 meters long.
This avenue wasn’t always so reputable. The area near the rond-point des Champs-Élysées was once a bit rough. There were popular dance halls. These included the bal de Flore and the bal d’Isis.
Around 1909 the couturier Paul Poiret moved his fashion house here. This shifted Paris’s elegance epicenter. It moved from Place Vendôme to this area.
Many notable buildings line the Avenue Franklin-D.-Roosevelt. At number 2 sits the Palais de la Découverte. It is a science museum housed within the Grand Palais.
The Théâtre du Rond-Point is at number 2 bis. At number 6 Christian Guignard opened the first Hippopotamus restaurant in France in 1968.
Many famous people have lived here. Marie Duplessis lived at number 9. She was the inspiration for “La Dame aux camélias”.
The Hôtel Le Marois stands at numbers 9-11. It now belongs to the France-Amériques association. The restaurant Lasserre is at number 17.
The Avenue Franklin-D.-Roosevelt. It is more than just a street. It is a walk through history. It is a symbol of enduring friendship.