“Acacias” does this name evoke images of sun-dappled lanes and fragrant blossoms? Here at Allée des Acacias, the name whispers a tale of Paris long ago. However, this Allée des Acacias is not as flowery as you might think. Let me guide you through its story.
The name “Allée des Acacias” refers to multiple streets and paths in and around Paris. There is a Rue des Acacias in the 17th arrondissement. There is also an Allée des Acacias in the Bois de Boulogne, and one in the Père-Lachaise cemetery.
Our focus is the Rue des Acacias in the 17th arrondissement. Its story begins in 1814 when it was one of the oldest streets in the area. Back then, this area was part of Neuilly-sur-Seine. At the time, the Rue des Acacias was a simple country road. It connected the Rue des Dames-de-Montmartre now Rue Poncelet to the Route de Saint-Germain now Avenue de la Grande-Armée.
The name “Rue des Acacias” came from the acacia trees planted along the street. These trees lined the road from 1825. Sadly, around 1880, these acacias vanished. Some say Haussmann was responsible. Others blame the harsh winter of 1879. This winter was one of the coldest ever recorded in France. The Seine River froze solid.
The trees were never replanted. Unlike Paris’s avenues, most streets remain unadorned with trees. In 1860, the street became part of Paris. Despite the loss of its trees, it kept its original name.
In 1875, Avenue Mac-Mahon was built. It intersected Rue des Acacias. This new avenue became one of the radiating streets leading to Place de l’Étoile.
The Rue des Acacias is also known for its interesting buildings. Number 1 was home to the mysterious “Black Baron” in the 1980s. This pilot flew a phantom plane over Paris at night with no lights on. Jean Dutourd was born at Number 3. His father had his home and dental practice there. Roland Garros lived in a maid’s room at Number 10.
Numbers 16 and 31 are small one-story buildings. They survived from the early days of the street. During World War II, Number 16 was a hotel where André Gaudin resisted the German occupation. Number 17 is an Art Deco building from 1931 by Jean Beaugrand.
Number 27 is famous because of a song. “27, rue des Acacias” was written in 1933 by Jean Nohain and sung by Mireille. However, the song’s descriptions of the street are poetic, not accurate. There are only six floors at Number 27 not seven.
At Number 32, Béatrix Excoffon requisitioned an apartment for a feminist club during the Paris Commune. The exiled Archduke Wilhelm von Habsburg-Lorraine rented an apartment at Number 45 before fleeing France in 1935.
Number 45 bis was once the Studio des Acacias cinema. It opened in 1933 but closed and reopened several times under different names. Today, it is a supermarket and the Nepalese embassy.
The poet Désirée Pacault died at Number 47. Number 54 has an interesting history. In the courtyard, an old stable became a boxing gym in the 1930s. Famous boxers like Carpentier and Cerdan trained there. Later, it became the Studio Mac Mahon. This studio was famous in the fashion world and for creating iconic images of yé-yé stars.
Also at Number 54, another building was an old dance hall and later a lacquer workshop. Louis Midavaine founded the workshop in 1919 after being wounded in World War I. He hired other war veterans. Today, the workshop is still creating and restoring lacquer objects.
Finally, Number 56 is the location of Passage des Acacias. This passage is short only 36 meters long and leads to Avenue Mac-Mahon.
So, while the Allée des Acacias may not be lined with blossoming acacias today its history is rich and varied. It is a street of stories from phantom planes to famous boxers to lacquer artists. Take a moment to appreciate the layers of history beneath your feet as you walk along this Parisian street.