Did you know? Victor Hugo once lived on an avenue in Paris that already bore his name during his lifetime.

Did you know that Victor Hugo once resided on a Parisian street that was already named after him during his lifetime? This surprising detail highlights the immense esteem in which the writer was held in his era. Let’s take a closer look at a lesser-known slice of Paris's literary history.

Paris is full of remarkable anecdotes, and one in particular deserves special mention. It tells the story of a man who lived on a street bearing his own name — and not just any name: Victor Hugo, one of the most iconic writers of the 19th century. This rarity, unusual in the history of Parisian toponymy, highlights the immense admiration the city held for the author of Notre-Dame de Paris and Les Misérables.

An Avenue Rechristened During Its Moment of Glory

In 1881, as Victor Hugo celebrated his 80th birthday, the City of Paris chose to pay a special tribute to the renowned writer by renaming the avenue of Eylau, located in the 16th arrondissement, to avenue Victor-Hugo. This change took place while the author still resided nearby, in a townhouse at what is now number 124.

This rare honor takes place amidst widespread public admiration. On its anniversary, over 600,000 people are said to have lined the streets in front of his residence. The procession, a genuine display of popular affection, cements Victor Hugo’s legend during his lifetime.

A Landmark Address Like No Other

This almost surreal situation highlights the extraordinary stature Hugo held in the collective French consciousness. The author was not just a literary giant; he had become, in his own right, a national monument.

A less conspicuous tribute was also made during the Paris Commune of 1871, when Boulevard Haussmann was temporarily renamed Boulevard Victor-Hugo. At the time, Hugo, exiled abroad, reportedly remarked with a touch of irony: “I saw my boulevard for the first time.”

A Lasting Mark on the Parisian Landscape

Today, Victor Hugo Avenue remains one of the main thoroughfares in the 16th arrondissement, connecting Charles de Gaulle Square to Victor Hugo Square. The upscale, residential neighborhood still honors the writer’s legacy, even though his former home is no longer open to visitors.

This kind of tribute paid during one’s lifetime remains truly exceptional. Few figures have received such widespread recognition while still alive, demonstrating that Victor Hugo, long before his final resting place in the Panthéon, had already won the hearts of Parisians.

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