Here stands Boulevard Ney a segment of Paris’s outer ring. This boulevard is part of the “Boulevards des Maréchaux”. These boulevards encircle the city.
Boulevard Ney stretches across the 18th arrondissement. It weaves through the Quartier de la Chapelle. It touches Clignancourt, Goutte d’Or, and Grandes Carrières.
The boulevard begins at Rue d’Aubervilliers. It extends to Avenue de Saint-Ouen. Boulevard Ney is quite long measuring 3,000 meters. Its width varies from 25 to 40 meters.
Once accessible by the Petite Ceinture bus line, the boulevard is now served by tram line 3b.
Ever wonder how Boulevard Ney got its name? It honors Michel Ney. He was a Marshal of the Empire a Duke of Elchingen and Prince de la Moskova. He was also a Marshal of France. Michel Ney lived from 1769 to 1815.
Boulevard Ney’s history dates back to 1861. It was created along the Thiers wall. This replaced the Rue Militaire. The boulevard officially received its current name in 1864.
Around 2020, the enclave between Entrepôt Ney and Rue de la Chapelle began transformation. This area commonly called “Zac Chapelle-Charbon” became a large green space. It is now known as Parc Chapelle-Charbon.
Another area Chapelle International hosts a new district. This district centers around Rue Pierre Mauroy. Rue des Cheminots and Rue Eva Kotchever are also part of this area. A new Parisian school and a day nursery are located south of Boulevard Ney.
During World War I Boulevard Ney faced danger. On June 10, 1918, a shell from Grosse Bertha exploded in the Clignancourt barracks. Another shell landed in front of the same barracks.
A portion of the avenue borders the ZAC Gare des Mines-Fillettes.
At number 3 Boulevard Ney you will find the Centre d’archives d’architecture contemporaine. This is an annex of the Cité de l’architecture et du patrimoine.
Hôpital Bichat is located at number 170. This is the hospital’s former entrance.
Jean Rolin described life on Boulevard Ney in his book La Clôture. It was published in 2002. The book depicts the area in the early 2000s.
Boulevard Ney is also known for Parisian prostitution both heterosexual and transgender.
Recent construction has reshaped parts of Boulevard Ney. A new social housing complex was built. This complex participates in the urban renewal of the boulevard. It also impacts the Porte de Clignancourt area. The building is divided into two volumes. These volumes are connected by a shared platform. A nursery occupies this platform. This project densified a lot. The built part aligns with the boulevard. This makes the area feel tighter and more alive.
The design is respectful of existing modernist towers. Two beacons of 6 and 9 stories face each other. Their staggered setbacks create views. They also increase sunshine on the nursery’s courtyard. The building features rounded corners. It uses a blend of materials. These enhance light and transparency. Geometric brick assemblages create patterns. These enliven the facades. The brickwork is in dialogue with the history of social housing. The white color gives it a contemporary style.
So as you continue your walk along Boulevard Ney consider its layers of history. Think about its evolution and its place in the Parisian landscape.