Rue de Tournon


The Rue de Tournon is a street in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, France. To the south, it offers a view of the Senate façade. At its northern end, it continues into the Rue de Seine, which leads to the Seine River. The street is located near the Jardin du Luxembourg.

Location and access

The Rue de Tournon begins at numbers 19 and 21 and ends at numbers 22 bis and 24 Rue de Vaugirard. Aligned roughly north-south with the Palais du Luxembourg, it is one of Paris's most prestigious streets. The street widens toward the south near Rue de Vaugirard, creating a visual perspective toward the Senate. To the north, it extends into Rue de Seine, reaching the Quai Malaquais.
Historically, the street was lined with antiquarian bookshops, some of which remain, though many have been replaced by clothing stores and hair salons.
The street is close to the Musée du Luxembourg, located in a building adjacent to the Senate.
Nearby metro stations include:

Origin of the name

The street is named after Cardinal François de Tournon, born in Tournon-sur-Rhône, who served as abbot of Saint-Germain-des-Prés and a key advisor to Francis I.

History

The land on which the street lies was originally marshy terrain owned by the Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, as documented in the abbey's records. The abbey sold portions of the land, requiring buyers to construct buildings along the street, which was known in 1517 as "ruelle de Saint-Sulpice," later as "ruelle du Champ de Foire" due to the Saint-Germain fair, and also as "rue du Marché aux chevaux."
By 1541, it was officially named "Rue de Tournon." The 1549 tax records indicate few houses existed at the time. The street is mentioned as "Rue de Tournon" in a 1636 manuscript. It also appears on the 1789 Paris road map, which shows a landscaped garden at number 4.
On February 26, 1867, a prefectural decree renamed part of the street "Rue du Sénat" due to the small plaza formed where it widens near Rue de Vaugirard, facing the Senate. It was also called "le Pré-Crotté" because of the refuse dumped there. Later, a market was established, and Cardinal de Tournon leased the land to his valet, Jean Gautier, for building houses. This small plaza still exists.
In early Messidor Year IV of the French Republic, the Section de Mucius Scævola initiated "civic banquets" on May 11–13, 1793, held in the streets and in front of houses. The practice spread across Paris, with Rue de Tournon residents notable for their organization of these events. A report from the Committee of Public Safety on 18 Messidor Year II references these banquets. The Commune later halted these gatherings due to excessive drinking and public disorder.
A decree from the Consulate on 18 Vendémiaire Year XI extended the street to Rue de Buci. A ministerial decision on 3 Nivôse Year X, signed by Jean-Antoine Chaptal, and a decree by President Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte on January 17, 1849, set the street’s width between 13.5 and 26.7 meters. Properties at numbers 11, 33, and all even-numbered buildings were exempt from realignment.
In October 1896, during his visit to France, Russian Tsar Nicholas II traveled along Rue de Tournon to reach the Palais du Luxembourg.

Notable buildings and places of interest

The Rue de Tournon in art