A guide to the home city of singer, songwriter and actor Serge Gainsbourg, from birth at L’Hôtel-Dieu de Paris in April 1928, to his final resting place at Cimitière du Montparnasse. Along the way, we note residences, bars, studios, nightclubs, along with many scenes of scandal, debauchery and great art.
At the time of his death in 1991, Gainsbourg was perhaps best known outside France for the songs “Je t’aime... moi non plus” and “Bonnie And Clyde”, and his marriage to Jane Birkin. His influence is perhaps greater now than at any time. Famous fans have done much to bring his work to a wider international audience, notably Air, Jarvis Cocker of Pulp and Alex Turner of Arctic Monkeys. Since September 2023, his former home at 5 bis Rue de Verneuil, has been open to the public, along with a museum, bookstore-boutique and café-piano bar opposite, The Gasinsbarre.