Avenue Galois

On a crisp autumn day in Bourg-la-Reine, imagine strolling down Avenue Galois. This tranquil avenue stretches 1260 meters, gently sloping westward towards the Bièvre River. Avenue Galois isn’t just a street. It’s a pathway through time, whispering stories of mathematicians, archers, and even a touch of Hollywood glamour. The avenue takes its name from Gabriel Galois, mayor of Bourg-la-Reine from 1814 to 1829. He was also the father of the brilliant, albeit tragically short-lived, mathematician Évariste Galois. A nearby square, accessible via a small impasse off the avenue, also bears Évariste’s name. Avenue Galois follows the path of a historical route, the old road from Versailles to Choisy. Remnants of this history linger in the architecture of certain buildings. At number 2, imagine royal archers standing guard in the 15th century, later replaced by the Delaunay house, a key marker in a 1778 land survey. Number 3 housed “L’Auberge du Cheval Blanc,” once a haven for those attending the Sceaux livestock market. Further down, at number 8, stood a two-story former post house, complete with stables, later occupied by the Buscaglia brothers, removal men, and the Minier printing house. This building was also the childhood home of Christiane Lanteri, a couturière for the famous Lucien Lelong. The avenue also housed notable residents. Number 9 was home to Mr. Brisset, a director at Ripolin paint company. Number 10 sheltered André Meynier, a geographer, and founder of the journal *Norois*. Renowned musician René Berg lived at number 12. Number 20 was the home of René Röckel, a member of the Resistance. Number 27 housed Adolphe Calvet, a naval officer and brother of the opera singer Emma Calvé. His son, Elie, born at this address, won first prize for comedy at the Conservatoire. The distinguished Latin philology professor, René Durand, resided at number 28 bis. At number 30 lived the publisher Albin Michel, from 1927 to 1943. Avenue Galois quietly holds these stories. It invites you to walk its length, not just as a street, but as a living testament to the lives that shaped Bourg-la-Reine.