Paris-Auteuil: A Tranquil Village in the City

   24386    15
Paris-Auteuil: A Tranquil Village in the City
When I was living in Paris years ago, I had the great fortune to live in a lovely area not generally frequented by tourists. Even today, it is still off the beaten circuits. I loved this tranquil and refined little haven called Auteuil – a pleasing village by the River Seine. In 1860, as part of Haussmann’s grand redevelopment plan, Auteuil was incorporated into the 16th arrondissement and soon acquired, and retained, the reputation as an area where the nouveau riche bourgeoisie like to live. Nevertheless, the little commune continued to retain its country character where life centered around Le Clocher du Village (the village bell tower). Auteuil’s origins actually date back to the early 12th century when it was part of the feudal domain of the Abbaye de Sainte-Geneviève. Auteuil abolished serfdom in 1247, about a century before the neighboring parishes, and in the 16th century became a refuge for Protestants escaping the infamous St. Bartholomew’s Day massacres. After the revolution in the 18th century, Auteuil became a commune. It was in the 17th century, however, that the pastoral atmosphere of Auteuil appealed to the upper classes in search of a reposing, healthful retreat. Soon Auteuil became home to some of the world’s most fascinating and illustrious literary and stage personalities – along with a mix of aristocrats and diplomats. Auteuil gained the additional reputation as a health center in the 1800s when therapeutic mineral springs were discovered. Several medical clinics sprouted up but they no longer exist. The most famous resident of Auteuil was Jean-Baptiste Poquelin (better known as Molière, 1622-1673), father of many classical French plays. His country home was at #2 rue d’Auteuil. Molière and many of his companions in the arts enjoyed gathering at an inn to eat and have stimulating discussions on the latest artistic currents and topics of the day. This took place at L’Auberge du Mouton Blanc, #40 rue d’Auteuil, one of the oldest restaurants in Paris. Some of the people Molière shared company with are famous literary personalities like playwright Jean Racine and poet-critic Nicolas Boileau. Among the independent ladies were the writers and progressive thinkers Madeleine de Scudéry, Ninon de Lenclos and the prominent tragic actress, Marie Champmeslé (who died in Auteuil). Should you decide to dine at Le Mouton Blanc, you may feel the lingering presence of this group as their portraits hang on the walls looking over the diners. Between 1784-1785, two future U.S. Presidents – John Adams and his son, John Quincy Adams – resided at #43-47 rue d’Auteuil in a house named Hôtel Antier that had been built for a renowned baroque opera singer, Marie Antier. The Adams family lived in Auteuil while John Adams negotiated treaties between France and the U.S. colonies. Adams’ compatriot, Benjamin Franklin, and a very popular personality in French society, lived in nearby Passy, within walking distance to Auteuil. Adams and Franklin may have been born only 12 miles apart sharing similar backgrounds, but they were complete opposites when it came to style and outlook. During Franklin’s nine-year stay in Paris he could be seen on most Wednesday and Saturday afternoons at #59 rue d’Auteuil attending the reputed drawing-room parties (salons) of the elegant and aristocratic socialite-hostess, Mme. Anne-Catherine de Ligniville-Helvétius, widow of a distinguished academic. His visits, in fact, were so frequent that a permanent place at the table was always set for him. He was smitten with Madame’s refined charms, but so were many others. It was not the matron’s physical attraction so much as how she engaged people with her warmth, intellect and wit. Eventually, the widowed Franklin would propose marriage to Madame, but she preferred to remain independent. It’s easy to see why Tout-Paris eagerly flocked to Madame’s delightful afternoon salons called L’Académie d’Auteuil. Hers was one of the best salons of Paris. They loved the country atmosphere and Madame’s relaxed, informal style. Around the table they engaged in lively discussions as well as flirtations – like coquettish little fights over cream – while a menagerie of 18 ribboned angora cats, canaries, two coiffed lap dogs and assorted chickens, pigeons and other animals wandered in, out and around the house. Madame’s friends called her “Minette.” Franklin called her Notre-Dame d’Auteuil. One neighbor, and occasional guest, was not so impressed by Notre-Dame d’Auteuil, and that was the straight-laced American, Abigail Adams (wife of John). Abigail found Madame’s behavior “shocking” as she witnessed her greeting Ben Franklin warmly with kisses on each cheek and the forehead. Abigail looked disapprovingly as “that bad woman” would sometimes warmly fling an arm around him. The Bonaparte family was also on the guest roster. Of course. One of them, Prince Pierre Bonaparte, even lived at #59 for a while. Napoléon Bonaparte, himself, was a guest at Madam’s salons on at least three occasions between 1798 and 1799. He complained that the property felt too “narrow.” Of course. Madame Helvétius bought the three-acre property at #59 after she was widowed. It already had a long history. The previous owner was none other than Maurice Quentin de la Tour, the famous rococo court portraitist. The original house is long gone and a modern apartment building erected in its place that, as things turned out, became my address for a few years. [caption…
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • ALREADY SUBSCRIBED?

Lead photo credit : vintage postcard of the Eglise d'Auteuil

Previous Article Eat, Drink and Be Merry at the Salon de l’Agriculture in Paris
Next Article You Won’t Believe this Chocolate Easter Egg at Shangri-La Paris


Dorothy Garabedian is a retired, expat American from central California living in Germany and now devoting her time to writing on travel, culture and lifestyle. She has traveled around the world and lived in Uruguay and the European cities of Brussels, Paris, Frankfurt and Moscow. Read more of her work on her blog, Detours and Diversion: https://dorothygarabedian.wordpress.com

Comments

  • Sandy Schopbach
    2020-09-24 06:52:30
    Sandy Schopbach
    Please correct your comment about Molière having written a play called La Comédie Française. He wrote many plays, none of which were called by that name. His works ARE, however, the fodder for the creation of said Comédie Française, a theater. But I'm sure you know that, and it was just haste - or rewriting/editing - that led to this error. (There's also a typo: "(In Franc,e Franklin was known as “chief of the rebels”) where the comma is in the wrong place. I know these kinds of problems because I myself write, about Paris and elsewhere. Aside from that, your article is very interesting. But that mistake could make people wonder if you weren't mistaken about other things, which I don't think you were. (I've lived in Paris since 1968, but in Montmartre, another great little neighborhood with a long history, both inside and outside of the city wallsl.

    REPLY

  • Mary T McPartland
    2019-03-07 19:50:19
    Mary T McPartland
    Beautiful article! Was just thinking of Moliere when our bus passes bybthe Comedie Francaise last month!

    REPLY

  • Etiennette Fennell
    2019-03-07 19:22:03
    Etiennette Fennell
    I visited Les Serres d'Auteuil 2 years ago and was dismayed by the destruction caused for the building of the tennis courts for the expansion of Roland Garros. The whole area is lost for me anyway because of the incessant périphérique traffic noise that surrounds the Serres gardens. Wanton waste of a once beautiful spot for a sport where the courts are used only about one month every year. Money rules.

    REPLY

  • Randy L. Turk
    2019-01-26 13:12:57
    Randy L. Turk
    Dorothy, thank you for the article about Auteuil my family lived in Auteuil for three generations. The apartment building shown in the picture at the entrance to Montmorency in your article was where my family lived, my grandmother and father on one floor and my great aunts on the upper floors. I stayed there frequently as a child. There still was bullet holes in the wall from the war. When my sister and I made arrangments for our mother's funeral at the Eglise d'Auteuil several years ago they showed the church records of our family.

    REPLY

  • John
    2016-03-24 20:57:30
    John
    My wife and I lived Ave Mozart for several months in the elegant and pricey building that was linked with the Dreyfus Affair. This was our first experience with a Hausman building. Our living room was gigantic with beautiful trim and three fireplaces but we could hear the piano playing in the flat upstairs like it was in the room with us. (friends have reported similar noise problems in Hausman buildings. One used to hear a former prime minister orating in his befroom) The owner upstairs had a leak in his WC which softened up the ceiling plaster in his floor. Our huge, ceiling-mounted water heater came crashing down and landed on our toilet. It would certainly have killed anyone sitting there. Fortunately we were in the kitchen and my wife immediately turned off the gushing water. If we hadn't been home the whole building might have come crashing down. We continue to live in Paris half the year but avoid renting in these elegant buildings

    REPLY

  • John Zumsteg
    2016-03-24 19:40:18
    John Zumsteg
    I love Auteuil, and spend a morning there every time I'm in Paris. I agree with an earlier post about Hector Guimard; all but one of his Paris buildings are in the 16th, and well worth a stroll to see them. My favorite is a house he designed and build in Villa de la Reunion, a gated community off rue Chardon Lagache at the intersection of rue Jouvenet. You can see the house through the gates, and if you wait a few minutes, someone will drive in or out, opening the gates to do so; Walk in behind the car to get a good look at Guimard's house (done this several times and never had a problem).

    REPLY

  • Pat ODonnell
    2016-03-13 03:36:50
    Pat ODonnell
    Dorothy, fantastic piece -- will definitely keep it and on my next excursion (perhaps September) to Paris will make it a point to investigate the area. Very, very informative and helpful. Thanks!!!

    REPLY

  • C J Boileau
    2016-03-07 21:03:33
    C J Boileau
    My maiden name is Boileau and went in search of Hameau Boileau in Auteuil during a trip to Paris with my best friend last May. Auteuil is a lovely area and I was thrilled to walk along Rue Boileau and discover many historical buildings and markers including the one about Nicolas Boileau's home and garden. I hope to return someday to spend more time in Auteuil.

    REPLY

  • Lily Heise
    2016-03-07 05:31:22
    Lily Heise
    What a fascinating post! I would have never guessed Auteuil had such a deep history... and so many intriguing residents. It's true the area has many lovely Art Nouveau buildings, but it's great to discover these other facets to the neighborhood as well.

    REPLY

  • Carrie
    2016-03-06 18:18:23
    Carrie
    I so enjoyed your article - I will be sure to visit Auteuil on my next trip to Paris!

    REPLY

  • Mary Kurtin
    2016-03-05 00:20:31
    Mary Kurtin
    Fascinating and juicy article Dor, I loved it. Congrats.

    REPLY

  • Dorothy
    2016-03-04 18:46:33
    Dorothy
    Avenue Mozart - a wonderful street! Thanks for your comment.

    REPLY

  • Dorothy
    2016-03-04 18:44:36
    Dorothy
    Yes, I'm familiar with the Queens Hotel and have stayed there a couple of times from way back. That is my first choice for staying in Paris when I have to stay in a hotel. Enjoy your future visits to Auteuil!

    REPLY

  • Daryl Younker
    2016-03-04 17:48:05
    Daryl Younker
    Thanks for this fantastic story. I'll be back in Paris in April, and I've put this on the top of my "Must See" list.

    REPLY

  • Pat M
    2016-03-04 10:43:01
    Pat M
    Wonderful article...if you ever edit, you might consider the addition of a paragraph about Hector Guimard as you already have a photo of his metro entrance design. He lived at 122 Avenue Mozart in a building he designed. Perhaps this is considered beyond the boundary of Auteuil; however, I lived at 114 Avenue Mozart and certainly considered Auteuil my home (as defined by the closest market).

    REPLY

  • Paula H
    2016-03-03 21:12:48
    Paula H
    I stayed at The Queens Hotel in this wonderful area during my last trip to France and I fell in love with it! Now if I could just find a flat on Air BNB in the neighborhood.

    REPLY