Rue de Vaugirard: Paris’s Longest Street Remembers a Vanished Village
Tomas k - News Writer and Moderator 
Welcome to the 20 Streets of Paris Series - Episode #7
Rue de Vaugirard is often described as the longest street in Paris.
Indeed, if you were to walk its entire length, you would cover 4 km / 2.5 miles across two arrondissements: the 6th and the 15th.
This thoroughfare links the Odéon district to the Porte de Versailles, following the route of a former country lane.
Rue de Vaugirard is an interesting example of Paris’s gradual expansion.
The origins of Rue de Vaugirard
It takes a bit of imagination to picture that, in days gone by, this bustling Parisian street was simply a road cutting through the fields.
It allowed travellers coming from Paris to reach the medieval village of Vaugirard.
At that time, the village lay outside the capital’s fortifications, in the countryside. Along the route of the street were farmlands and religious communities.
Where does the name Vaugirard come from?
As mentioned, Vaugirard was the name of a village situated to the south-west of Paris. Its name probably derives from ‘Val Girard’, meaning the valley of Girard. Tradition attributes the founding of a monastery in the vicinity to Abbé Girard. Thus, over time, Val Girard became Vaugirard. The village then gave its name to the street.
From country lane to Parisian street
As Paris gradually expanded south-westwards, the land between Paris and Vaugirard was developed. The former country lane was transformed into an urban thoroughfare, and the village of Vaugirard was eventually absorbed into Paris.
The street has thus become a vital link between several neighbourhoods and, above all, an illustration of how Paris grew by incorporating neighbouring villages in 1860.
The urban landscape along the street
As you walk along the street from east to west, you’ll enjoy a wide variety of atmospheres and architectural styles, varying according to the era.
There are the elegant neighbourhoods around the Luxembourg Gardens, followed by university buildings and institutions.
Further on, residential blocks stand alongside local shops.
Some sections of the street are rather quiet, whilst others are bustling.
What to Notice on Rue de Vaugirard:
At 4 km / 2.5 miles, it is the longest street in Paris, and it links the 6th and 15th arrondissements on the Left Bank
Its name recalls the Val Girard, the valley of Abbé Girard, whose monastery once stood on the route of the street.
It begins near the Place de l’Odéon and the Jardin du Luxembourg, and ends at the Porte de Versailles (where the Parc des Expositions is located)
At the start of the route, you can catch a glimpse of the Senate dome, an unmissable landmark in an ever-changing urban landscape
Along the street, university buildings, neighbourhood markets and residential blocks stand side by side, forming the mosaic of a former village that has become a major Parisian thoroughfare.
Have you walked the full length of Rue de Vaugirard, from the Luxembourg Gardens to the Porte de Versailles? What did you notice along the way?
Introducing Contributor, Pierre Guernier:
Visit his Contributor Page — Explore more of Pierre’s work
