Avenue de la Varenne

“A hunting ground fit for a king,” mused Charles, adjusting his powdered wig. He gestured grandly towards Avenue de la Varenne. “Or so the name suggests.” Avenue de la Varenne. A street steeped in history and whispering secrets of powerful figures. Originally, this very spot was likely a sprawling, untamed land teeming with game, a “varenne” as it was called, reserved for royal hunts. The avenue, stretching elegantly from Rue de la Chaise to Boulevard des Invalides, bears the marks of centuries past. It officially came into being in the early 17th century. Initially, only the section between Rue du Bac and Boulevard des Invalides bore the name “Rue de Varenne.” The stretch from Rue du Bac to Rue de la Chaise was known as “Rue de la Planche,” after Raphaël de la Planche, treasurer of the King’s buildings, who established a tapestry factory there around 1640. In 1850, these two sections were united under the single name, Avenue de la Varenne. But the story doesn’t end there. The street’s name has other possible origins. Perhaps it honors an Abbot of Varennes, like Mathieu Perrot or Jacob de Nuchez, or a Lord of Varennes like François Perron. Or maybe even Florent de Varennes, Admiral of France. The hôtel particuliers that line Avenue de la Varenne have housed a cast of characters that would rival any royal court. Potier de Novion, president of the mortar, whose grandson inherited his position at the tender age of fifteen, once resided at number 11. The Hôtel Saint-Celais, numbers 24, 26, and 28, was once the residence of the Duchess of Lauzun during the reign of Louis XV. At number 57 stands the magnificent Hôtel Matignon, the official residence of the French Prime Minister. And just a short stroll away, the Hôtel Biron, numbers 75-79, now houses the Rodin Museum. These walls have seen conspiracies hatched, duels fought, and fortunes made and lost. They’ve witnessed the rise and fall of empires and the quiet dramas of everyday life. As you walk along Avenue de la Varenne, imagine the carriages rattling over the cobblestones, the rustle of silk gowns, the hushed conversations of dignitaries. The echoes of these lives still linger in the air, a testament to the enduring power of history and the captivating stories held within the very stones of this magnificent avenue.