“Have you ever wondered who Pierre Dupont was? Avenue Pierre Dupont is named after this famous French songwriter. It is located in the 10th arrondissement of Paris. This avenue has a rich history. It began as two passages created around 1830 by Mr. Alexandre Delessert.
Delessert intended to build two streets. Each street was to be 12 meters wide. He did not fulfill the requirements set by the municipal administration. The two passages were closed with gates. Until 1842 they were known as Delessert passages. Then they became known as Feuillet passages. One of these passages eventually became Rue Wissembourg. In 1892, it was renamed Avenue Pierre-Dupont. The other passage reverted to the name Delessert passage.
Pierre Dupont was a significant figure. He was a French chansonnier born in Lyon in 1821. He died in 1870. Dupont’s mother passed away before he was five. He was raised by his godfather a village priest. He studied at the seminary of L’Argentière. Later he apprenticed to a notary in Lyon.
In 1839, he made his way to Paris. Some of his poems appeared in the Gazette de France and the Quotidienne. A kinsman and Pierre Lebrun helped him avoid conscription. They enabled him to publish his first volume Les Deux Anges. In 1842, he received a prize from the Academy. He worked on the official dictionary for some time.
Gounod appreciated his peasant song Les Bœufs. This appreciation solidified his path as a songwriter. Dupont lacked formal music training. Yet he composed both the words and melodies for his songs. These processes often happened at the same time. He needed Ernest Reyer to write down his tunes due to his lack of musical knowledge.
Dupont sang his songs at workmen’s concerts. These concerts took place in the Salle de la Fraternité du Faubourg Saint-Denis. The public performance of his famous Le chant du pain was banned. Le chant des ouvriers was even more popular. In 1851, he faced consequences for his socialist views. He was sentenced to seven years of exile from France. This sentence was later cancelled. Dupont withdrew from politics for a while. He spent his later years in Lyon where he died.
His songs have been published in various collections. These include Chants et chansons and Chants et poésies. Some of his best-known songs are Le Braconnier and La Vache blanche.
Avenue Pierre Dupont is not only rich in history but also has some buildings. At number 14 Avenue Pierre Dupont, a building was constructed in 1993. It began operating in 1994. The building contains 10 apartments and 10 parking spaces.
On January 30, 1918, during World War I, number 7 Avenue Pierre-Dupont was struck during a German air raid.
Avenue Pierre Dupont stands as a reminder. It commemorates a talented songwriter and a turbulent period in French history. Take a moment to appreciate the layers of history. They are woven into the very fabric of this Parisian street.”