Who Do You Know?
It’s fun to pay attention to street signs in France because streets are often named after people who contributed to society or somehow left their mark. In this way, I can learn a little more about French history and culture. Who is that? And why were they important? Each sign also tells us which arrondissement (or area) of Paris we are in. This contrasts with how it’s done in the U.S. generally. There is no Elm Street, Maple Street, Second Street, or Main Street in Paris. Back in the U.S., we tend to name streets after mundane features (like maples, oaks, or numbers), generally unremarkable people, state names, or very localized places. But here in France, they think this through a little more carefully.
The thing I like most is that the people that Parisian streets are named after usually were really important, in the sense that I personally like to use the word. They were philosophers, scientists, writers, artists and architects. They contributed something lasting to society and life. Beyond politicians and famous activists like Martin Luther King Jnr., if the U.S. were to start naming streets after “important” people, we would end up with Tom Cruise Boulevard and Michael Jordan Lane. Sports figures and Hollywood celebrities. Not really important to society or humanity. Not long term anyway.
I spent a fair bit of time checking out street names in Paris during our sabbatical there. I often stopped to read them and find out who that person was. I’d noted Charles de Gaulle Place, for example, but what really got my interest piqued was finding “rue Vivienne”—my namesake, and actually spelled the same way.
So, here’s a small sampling of some of the names I found. Happy learning!
One of the reasons Adelaide is one of my favourite cities is that there’s a Kellett Avenue there.
But, my favourite street sign of all has to be Oude Vaart Platz in Antwerp. I wonder if it means what it sounds like?
Hi Keith,
Glad you have a street too!
Yeah, that one in Antwerp probably has that kind of meaning!
In UK, do you also call an older man who’s a bit silly “an old f**t’?
Oude Vaart Platz: I think it is supposed to be Oude Vaart Plaats, and it means Old Channel/Canal Village (or town, courtyard, place, etc.). Language is Flemish (Belgian Dutch).
Thanks for letting us know the real meaning!