Tucked away from the bustling streets of Paris, lies a hidden gem called Cité Leroy. It’s a place seemingly untouched by time, a world away from the grand boulevards and iconic monuments. Here, in this charming little alleyway, you’ll find a piece of old Paris, a reminder of a time when life was simpler, and the city’s rhythm moved at a different pace.
Cité Leroy was born in 1869, alongside the creation of the nearby Rue des Pyrénées. A stone engraver named Michel Leroy, who worked on the street’s construction, acquired a large plot of land here. He envisioned a small community and divided the land into three parcels, selling two and keeping the largest for himself. On his portion, he built modest homes, a well for drinking water, and, unfortunately, an insufficient cesspool that quickly made Cité Leroy quite unpleasant.
The residents, even back then, showed their fighting spirit. In 1884, they filed a petition to force Leroy to connect the homes to the sewer system, a testament to their desire for a better quality of life. Today, Cité Leroy retains that same spirit, having survived multiple threats of demolition thanks to the relentless efforts of its residents. Imagine, in 1992, the city planned to demolish most of Cité Leroy to make way for 130 new housing units. Thankfully, the residents rallied, forming the “Cité Leroy Association,” and their determination, along with the discovery of unstable soil, halted the project.
Even in 2000, when the city proposed building six new structures on the edge of Cité Leroy, the residents, backed by the local town hall, successfully fought back. The result? A charming community garden now graces the spot, a testament to their victory. Walking through Cité Leroy today, you’ll be struck by its village-like atmosphere. Tiny, brightly colored houses, lovingly maintained by their owners, line the narrow passage. Flowers spill from window boxes, and shared gardens burst with greenery, a testament to the enduring spirit of this unique corner of Paris.