Named after a pump that supplied water to the Château de la Muette, Rue de la Pompe whispers stories of Parisian life. It stretches 1690 meters marking it as one of the longest streets in the 16th arrondissement. Rue de la Pompe runs from Avenue Paul Doumer to Avenue Foch.
Originally a small path, Rue de la Pompe first appeared around 1730. Imagine it as the main north-south axis of Passy. It was used primarily for agriculture until Passy became part of Paris in 1860.
Brigitte Bardot spent a part of her childhood in a house that was located on the southern part of Rue de la Pompe. Picture a young Brigitte playing. Jules Janin lived a few steps away. His country house stood where number 11 is today.
George du Maurier, born in Paris in 1834, spent his childhood nearby. In his novel Peter Ibbetson, he fondly recalls his childhood days on Rue de la Pompe.
Between buildings 43 and 45 once stood a hotel. From 1877 to 1880, Carlos de Borbón lived here. He was a Carlist claimant to the Spanish throne. This made Rue de la Pompe a hub for international politics and intrigue. The French authorities eventually asked him to leave. The hotel was later demolished for the Rue de Siam’s construction.
The American writer Julien Green lived on the left side of Rue de la Pompe. He attended Lycée Janson de Sailly across the street. Since he spoke English at home and French at school, he called Rue de la Pompe his Atlantic Ocean.
General Joseph Jacques Césaire Joffre also lived opposite the high school for ten years. A plaque on house number 115 commemorates his residence.
Napoleon III bought Virginia Oldoini, Countess di Castiglione, a house on Rue de la Pompe in 1857. She was an early photographer, secret agent, courtesan, and mistress to royalty.
In 1919, Irène Némirovsky made her home at 115 Rue de la Pompe. She is the author of David Golder, Le Bal, and Suite Francaise.
The architect Georges Debrie designed the building at number 7 in Haussmann style in 1898. The Huret bookstore at number 9 has been selling rare books since 1973.
The composer Alfred Bruneau lived at number 10 between 1910 and 1924. A plaque honors him. At number 25 stands a former flower shop called Orève. Its facade has mosaics with plant motifs.
At number 31 stands the Lycée Gerson, a Catholic school. Gaston Lévy opened his pediatric practice at number 34 in 1932. The Iglesia del Corazón Inmaculado de María is located at 51 bis-53.
The École de la Providence established itself at number 52 in 1897. The town hall of the district stands at number 73. Caroline-Eugénie Segond-Weber lived at number 83. François Mauriac lived at number 89 until 1931. His son Claude Mauriac was born here. Brigitte Bardot and Jacques Attali also resided here. Pierre Brossolette ran a bookstore here between 1940 and 1942.
Charles Baudelaire briefly stayed at number 128 in 1852. The Renoma men’s clothing store opened at 129 bis in 1963. Luchino Revelli-Beaumont was kidnapped in front of his home at number 183.
During the Occupation, a German police outpost was located at number 180. Resistance fighters were tortured here.
Rue de la Pompe is more than just a street. It is a vibrant thread in Paris’s rich tapestry. Its history is filled with stories of artists, writers, and political figures.