Picture this Rue Gallieni in Bagnolet a bustling avenue bordering Paris. Its story begins in 1890. Then it was called Avenue du Centenaire. It connected the heart of Bagnolet to the Porte de Montreuil. The area was a mix of different vibes. This contrast intensified as the Porte de Montreuil changed. Walk down Rue Gallieni and you’ll see how it fades each day. New buildings now stand alongside old ones. Luxury apartments contrast sharply with the small remaining businesses. This blending of new and old is Rue Gallieni’s unique charm.
Rue Gallieni’s history is interwoven with Bagnolet’s. Bagnolet was one of the last towns near Paris to urbanize. The reason? Its geology. It lies in a valley. Two gypsum hills made it difficult to build a direct street to Paris. Water flowed from the Château de l’Étang. It fed the Château de Bagnolet’s gardens. The Château was owned by the Duchess of Orléans in 1719. This aristocratic enclave hampered travel. It made trips to Paris or Montreuil difficult. A large detour was needed.
The initial Avenue du Centenaire included what is now Avenue du Général-de-Gaulle. It went near the Gallieni shopping center. It then joined Rue Sadi-Carnot the main street of old Bagnolet. Avenue Gallieni is an extension of the Montreuil flea market. It’s always housed the market. The flea market spills onto Avenue Gallieni. It’s a captivating blend of old and new.
The intersection of Rue Gallieni and Avenue du Professeur André-Lemierre is fascinating. Avenue André-Lemierre is technically in Paris. It’s located behind the périphérique. Many consider it part of the suburbs. This intersection is unique. It marks the border between Paris and Bagnolet. It highlights the contrast between the past and the future. This intersection has long hosted a flea market. A large parking lot was the former home. It will soon be replaced by a new office building.
Rue Gallieni is constantly evolving. The old and the new clash. Luxury apartments and high-tech buildings are rising. The traditional shops and older buildings are disappearing. Three years ago there was an artistic squat. Next door two shisha bars thrived. Large wood storage facilities were common. Now a large construction site dominates the area. A new high-end residential building replaces the old Liebert Tower. This tower was once occupied by the Wonder collective. They used it as a squat. Then it housed migrants who were evicted by the police. The collective created happenings and theater costumes there. The Wonder Building keeps the name of this artistic squat. The collective moved after to Clichy.
Rue Gallieni’s transformation is part of a larger urban renewal project. The Porte de Montreuil is being redesigned. It’s becoming a green space connecting Paris and its suburbs. This project is called Reinventing Cities. It’s changing the face of Avenue Gallieni. The flea market is being modernized too. It’ll become a covered market. However there are concerns about the future of the street vendors. The project might displace many of them.
Further north Rue Gallieni leads to the Bagnolet interchange. It’s a massive structure of pre-stressed concrete slabs. The interchange was built between 1966 and 1969. It connects the périphérique to the A3 highway. A shopping center was added in 1988. Previously there were plans for a skating rink a velodrome or a rock venue. The architect Serge Lana designed the shopping center. He cleverly integrated it into the existing urban fabric.
Rue Gallieni’s transformation continues. It represents a significant shift. The street embodies both the past and future of Bagnolet and its relationship with Paris. It’s a captivating story of change adaptation and the enduring spirit of a Parisian avenue.