Imagine Jean-de-Dieu Soult marching before you. He was the 1st Duke of Dalmatia and Marshal of France. Boulevard Soult bears his name. This boulevard in the 12th arrondissement is part of the Boulevards of the Marshals. These encircle Paris.
Boulevard Soult stretches 1,270 meters. It runs from Avenue Daumesnil to Porte de Vincennes. Then Boulevard Davout takes over. This outer boulevard was created in 1864. It replaced part of the Rue Militaire.
Before the boulevard was built, the Thiers wall stood here. The French war department built it around 1840. It included fortifications and a moat. In 1859, the military gave control to Paris. The city expanded in 1860. Everything inside the wall became Paris.
The city council began upgrading the Rue Militaire in 1861. Boulevard Soult was among the first sections to open. Each boulevard was named after a marshal. These marshals served under Napoleon I. By 1932, most of the Boulevards of the Marshals were complete. The final sections opened in 2005. Nineteen of the 22 boulevards honor Soult or his fellow marshals.
In the 1930s, social housing appeared along Boulevard Soult. These HBM buildings housed working-class people. They came from rural areas after World War I. The buildings stood on the outer side between Porte Dorée and Porte de Vincennes.
A fire struck number 64 Boulevard Soult in 2008. One resident died and the building suffered damage. Since 2012, tramway Line 3 runs on Boulevard Soult. It provides easy access.
Once, a remarkable tree grew at number 27. It was a European nettle tree planted in 1906. It stood 16 meters tall. Its circumference measured 2.20 meters. Sadly, the tree no longer exists.
In the mid-1960s, the southeastern section changed. This allowed construction of the Lycée Paul Valéry. It opened in 1962 at number 38. Squares Émile-Cohl and Georges-Méliès are nearby. Access to the Promenade plantée is at Rue du Sahel.
At number 101, find the Sentier des Merisiers. This is one of Paris’s narrowest streets. It leads to the Rue du Niger.
The Boulevard Soult offers a glimpse into Parisian history. It blends military past with modern life. The tram glides where walls once stood. Social housing replaced old fortifications. Boulevard Soult stands as a testament to Paris’s evolution. It is a place where history and everyday life intertwine.