Surely, a street named after an artist has stories etched into its very pavement. Let’s explore the Rue Françoise-Bonvin. This street in Paris is a testament to art and history. It resides in the 15th arrondissement. Have you ever wondered how streets get their names?
The Rue Françoise-Bonvin is named for Françoise Bonvin. He was a French painter and engraver. The Rue Françoise-Bonvin wasn’t always named that. In 1890, it was named Rue Françoise-Millet. The 16th arrondissement received the name Rue Françoise-Bonvin at that time. But that was not the end of it.
In 1891, the names were swapped. The 15th became Rue Françoise-Bonvin. The 16th became Rue Françoise-Millet. This little switcheroo cemented the street’s identity. But the story of Rue Françoise-Bonvin doesn’t end with its name.
Picture this: April 16, 1918. World War I raged. A shell from Grosse Bertha exploded. It landed at 2 Rue Françoise-Bonvin. The Schneider factory was there. It made projectile fuses. Thirteen thousand five hundred people worked there. Imagine the chaos.
Today, the Rue Françoise-Bonvin is a much quieter place. This street stretches 270 meters. It runs in a straight line. The road goes from north-north-west to south-south-east. It starts at Rue Miollis and ends at Rue Lecourbe.
If you walk the Rue Françoise-Bonvin from Rue Miollis. The odd numbers are on your left. The even numbers are on your right. Metro stations are nearby. Cambronne on line 6 is close. Ségur on line 10 is not far. Sèvres-Lecourbe on line 6 is also accessible. Buses 39, 80, and 89 stop on Rue Lecourbe too.
Look for number 27. Here stands the Église Sainte-Rita. It is a neo-Gothic church built in 1900. Numbers 29-31 mark the entrance to the UNESCO Miollis annex.
The Rue Françoise-Bonvin is more than just a street. It is a slice of Parisian history. It connects art, war, and everyday life. The street’s story is a reminder of Paris’s rich past. Take a stroll. Absorb the atmosphere. Feel the history under your feet here on Rue Françoise-Bonvin.