2 December 2011

Victor Hugo in the 16th arrondissement, Paris, France: Literary Île-de-France #47

Avenue Victor-Hugo is in the north of the 16th arrondissement, and after the Champs-Élyséesis the longest in Paris. Hugo lived at number 124, which was then a 'hôtel'. It was formerly called avenue d'Eylau, although its name was changed when Victor Hugo was 79, and is where he died.  The present building was constructed by Pierre Humbert.

Above the doorway is a sculpture of Hugo's face by Fonquergne.

A plaque records the details of the site.

2 comments:

Les Miserable said...

It wasn't a "hotel" as we know them but a "hôtel particulier" - a townhouse of a grand sort, comparable to the British townhouse or mansion. Whereas an ordinary maison (house) was built as part of a row, sharing party walls with the houses on either side and directly fronting on a street, an hôtel particulier was often free-standing and, by the 18th century, would always be located entre cour et jardin – between the cour d'honneur (an entrance court) and the garden behind.[2] There are hôtels particuliers in many large cities in France." I had an office on that site - 124 Avenue Victor Hugo, Paris.

Dr Tony Shaw said...

Ouais, c'est ce que j'ai compris, mais il vaudrait peut-être mieux que je mette le mot entre guillemets et avec l'accent circonflexe. Merci !