Ever heard of a street named after a poet who never lived there? That’s the curious case of Rue Alfred de Vigny in Paris. But Lille also has its own Rue Alfred de Vigny. This street shares its name with a Parisian counterpart. So let’s discover the story behind the name.
Rue Alfred de Vigny is named for the poet Alfred de Vigny. He was a prominent figure in French Romanticism. Born in 1797 Vigny excelled as a poet novelist and playwright.
It’s interesting to note that while the Parisian street bears his name Vigny never actually resided there. He didn’t even live in that district. This detail adds a layer of intrigue to the street’s identity.
The Parisian Rue Alfred de Vigny is located in the 8th and 17th arrondissements. It begins at Place du Général Brocard. It ends at Rue de Chazelles. The Courcelles station on line 2 serves this area. The street is relatively short. It measures 195 meters in length. Its width varies between 10 and 15 meters.
The Parisian street’s history is divided into two phases. The first section opened in 1861. The Pereire brothers developed it as part of the Parc Monceau project. The second section was originally named Rue Fournial. It was absorbed into Rue Alfred de Vigny in 1904.
Several buildings of note line the Parisian Rue Alfred de Vigny. Number 2 is a 1906 building. It features a neo-Louis XIII style. Architect Breffenville designed it for M Favarger. Later in 1910 it became the private mansion of Madame Bertin-Mention.
At number 5 stands an office building. Jean Fayeton designed it in 1956. It once housed the Compagnie française d’assurance pour le commerce extérieur. Today the SCPI Notapierre owns the building.
Number 6 boasts a beautiful building. Its design reflects the Louis XV style. In 1936 a jewelry theft occurred there. The stolen items were valued at 300000 francs. The robbery took place in a banker’s apartment.
The high protestant bank once had a significant presence here. Families such as the Dollfus Hottinguer and Neuflize were found at number 7.
The Hôtel Menier is at number 8. Henri Parent designed it in 1884. It showcases a neo-first French Renaissance style. Henri Menier son of the chocolate Menier founder commissioned it.
Number 9 is an 1893 building. It was built for the playwright Georges Lieussou. Reynaldo Hahn’s family moved there in 1897. Marcel Proust and Sarah Bernhardt were among his guests.
Hôtel Pereire stands at number 10. William Bouwens van der Boijen designed it. It was built between 1879 and 1881. Emile II Pereire the son of financier Emile Pereire owned it. The Fondation Simone et Cino Del Duca now occupies it.
Alexandre Cabanel the painter lived at number 14. He resided there from 1872 until his death in 1889. Number 16 at the corner of Boulevard de Courcelles dates back to 1901.
Rue Alfred de Vigny a street with Parisian roots but now also present here in Lille invites reflection on history art and the subtle connections that link places and people across time.