Villa Murat, a narrow passageway, is an unassuming Parisian street in the 16th arrondissement. It is a quiet street that leads from the bustling Boulevard Murat to the charming Rue Claude Terrasse. You might overlook the street entirely if it weren’t for a grand plaque on a building at the entrance. It bears the name of Marshal Joachim Murat, the King of Naples and a prominent figure in Napoleon’s army. That name is a clue: The villa is named after him, as he lived near here.
This hidden street leads you through a small forest, a secret green oasis amidst the city. Now, think about it: While the world remembers Napoleon, the streets of Paris bear the names of many of his generals. Napoleon’s grand sister, Caroline Murat, married the Marshal. This explains the connection to the Villa Murat.
The street, also known as Passage Murat, was once merely a field, not a place where residences were built. It was in 1881 that the street was officially opened to the public. The name changed, though, from “Passage Murat” to “Villa Murat” in 1936. In a way, the streets themselves tell a story about the powerful figures from the Napoleonic era.