“Did you know that Avenue Max de Nansouty bears the name of a military figure?” It’s a fitting tribute considering its history and surroundings. Let’s explore Avenue Max de Nansouty together.
Avenue Max de Nansouty begins at 25 avenue Reille and 2 rue Émile-Deutsch-de-La-Meurthe. It extends to boulevard Jourdan. This avenue follows the route of an old path in the commune of Gentilly.
Opened as Avenue Max de Nansouty in 1865 it is five years after the annexation of northern Gentilly by the capital. The avenue is named after General Étienne Marie Antoine Champion de Nansouty. He was a count of Nansouty and a figure of the Empire from 1768 to 1815.
In 1924 a portion of Avenue Max de Nansouty was renamed rue Émile-Deutsch-de-La-Meurthe. This change honored Émile Deutsch-de-la-Meurthe. He was an industrialist and philanthropist who lived from 1847 to 1924. Deutsch-de-la-Meurthe initiated the creation of the Cité Universitaire de Paris. He financed its first buildings.
Avenue Max de Nansouty is primarily residential. It directly faces Parc Montsouris. An interesting feature of Avenue Max de Nansouty is that it only has even numbers. This is because Parc Montsouris is located on the odd-numbered side of the avenue.
In the subsurface a gallery for inspecting quarries shares the avenue’s name.
You can reach Avenue Max de Nansouty via the RER B at Cité Universitaire station.
In 1868 the géorama universel de Montsouris was created. It was located on a large plot of land of 4,000 m2 surrounded by acacias. This plot was on rue Nansouty now rue Émile-Deutsch-de-La-Meurthe and boulevard Jourdan. The géorama universel de Montsouris was a geographical attraction that no longer exists.
André Gide mentioned this place in Si le grain ne meurt. He described it as an extraordinary place near Parc de Montsouris. It was a miserable garden. The owner dressed in alpaca had arranged it as a map of geography.
Today Avenue Max de Nansouty offers a blend of history and tranquility.