Here on the Avenue du Maréchal Lyautey let’s explore a story of legacy. The Avenue du Maréchal Lyautey is located in Paris’s 16th arrondissement. This avenue stretches 500 meters. It begins at 1 square Tolstoï. It ends at 2 place de la Porte-d’Auteuil.
The Avenue du Maréchal Lyautey was created in 1929. It was named in honor of Louis Hubert Gonzalve Lyautey. He was a Marshal of France. He was also the first Resident-General of the French Protectorate in Morocco.
Marshal Lyautey was born in Nancy. He died in Thorey. He is remembered for his actions in Morocco. He served under Joseph Gallieni in Tonkin and Madagascar. Later he served in Algeria. He was charged with pacifying the Algerian-Moroccan border region. After the Treaty of Fès he became the first Resident-General of French Morocco.
The Avenue du Maréchal Lyautey stands on the former sites of bastions 61 and 62. These bastions were part of the Thiers wall. The east side of the Avenue du Maréchal Lyautey is developed. A tree-lined promenade separates the avenue from the Allée des Fortifications. A cycle path runs along this promenade.
Interestingly there is another street in the 16th arrondissement named after the same historical figure. It is the Rue Lyautey. It is located near Rue Raynouard.
At number 25 Avenue du Maréchal Lyautey Danielle and François Mitterrand lived. This was early in Mitterrand’s political career. At number 47 Alexandre de Marenches lived. He was the director-general of the SDECE. This is the French external intelligence agency.
The Avenue du Maréchal Lyautey runs along the Auteuil racecourse. This also means it is next to the Bois de Boulogne. Two squares are located near the avenue. They are Square Alfred-Capus and Square Tolstoï.
This avenue is served by metro line 10 at Porte d’Auteuil station. The Avenue du Maréchal Lyautey connects to Avenue du Maréchal-Franchet-d’Espérey. These names reflect significant figures in French history.
So next time you find yourself on the Avenue du Maréchal Lyautey take a moment to remember its namesake. Remember the Marshal’s impact on French history. Consider the lives of those who once resided here. Think about how Avenue du Maréchal Lyautey connects to the broader story of Paris.