Named for a famous navigator, what secrets does Allée Bougainville hold? Allée Bougainville is a street in Paris. It is located in the 7th arrondissement.
Let’s explore the story of this Parisian street. Allée Bougainville’s history is quite interesting. Once, it was just a simple path. It led to the gallows of the Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés. These gallows were first located near the Sainte-Clotilde basilica. As Paris grew, the gallows moved further away. They were relocated to where Allée Bougainville meets Rue Chevert.
After the Revolution, the path became known as “Petite-rue Chevert”. Later, it was officially aligned by an ordinance. Finally, it received its current name by decree. The street is named after Louis-Antoine de Bougainville. He was a famous French navigator who lived from 1729 to 1811.
Allée Bougainville begins at 17 Avenue de La Motte-Picquet. It ends at 16 Rue Chevert. The street is relatively short. It measures only 36 meters in length. The width of Allée Bougainville is 10 meters.
Jacques Hillairet mentions Allée Bougainville in his historical dictionary. It is found in the “Rue Bougainville” section on page 217. This provides further insight into its history.
So next time you find yourself on Allée Bougainville, remember its past. Think of the path to the gallows. Think of the navigator.