Picture this. You are standing at the beginning of Rue de Navarin. A quiet street in Paris’s 9th arrondissement. It’s a charming place. Rue de Navarin begins at 37 rue des Martyrs and ends at 16 bis rue Henry-Monnier. It’s a relatively short street only 190 meters long. But it holds a surprising amount of history.
This unassuming street is named after a famous naval battle. The battle of Navarino. In 1827 combined French English and Russian fleets defeated the Turco-Egyptian navy. This victory played a significant role in the Greek War of Independence. The name Rue de Navarin commemorates this important event. It’s a subtle reminder of the broader historical context of this seemingly ordinary Parisian street.
Rue de Navarin has played host to many notable figures. Number 7 housed the writer and photographer Miguel Ruiz. Number 11 is now the headquarters of the International Council of the French Language. This is thanks to a generous donation in 1983. The donation was from Rene Patris d’Uckermann the adoptive son of the painter Ernest Hebert. Hebert lived and worked at this location.
The street also has a darker past. Number 9 was once a brothel known as Chez Christiane. It specialized in sado-masochistic practices. A surprising detail for such a quiet street. It shows a different side to this Parisian neighborhood. Number 22 holds a poignant memory. It was the home of Charles Aznavour’s family during World War II. They sheltered Missak and Meline Manouchian. They were FTP-MOI leaders denounced by the infamous Affiche Rouge. A plaque now commemorates both Aznavour and the Manouchians.
Even the buildings themselves tell stories. Number 9 is in a neo-Gothic style. Numbers 18-20 mark the site of the former Villa Bothorel. This is where the famous writers Theophile Gautier and Gerard de Nerval once lived.
So next time you walk along Rue de Navarin remember its history. Remember the naval battle. Remember the artists and writers. Remember the hidden stories of this ordinary yet extraordinary Parisian street. The stories of Rue de Navarin are just waiting to be discovered.