“Alfred Chanzy? Never heard of him.” I overheard someone say just now. But let me tell you about the Rue Chanzy, a street in Paris named after a man who commanded the army of the Loire during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871.
Rue Chanzy is located in the 11th arrondissement. It’s in the Sainte-Marguerite neighborhood. The street stretches 425 meters. It offers a glimpse into Parisian history and architecture.
Previously, Rue Chanzy was part of Rue Titon. This was between Rue Titon and Boulevard Voltaire. The change happened in 1889. The street was then officially named Rue Chanzy.
As you walk along Rue Chanzy, notice the buildings. At number 9, there’s a unique private mansion. It features brick and stone. Architect Achille Champy designed it in 1902. The sculptures are by Despoix de Folleville. Look for the metal window frame on the second floor. Its arabesque design is reminiscent of Victor Horta’s Art Nouveau style. The ironwork on the balconies also displays stylized leaves and stems.
Then at number 30, is the Immeuble Cité Prost. It was constructed between 2005 and 2007. Bernard Bühler designed it.
Don’t miss number 37. It’s a building from the second half of the 18th century. It once housed a business for buying, selling and distributing slides. It also had a workshop for making photographic slides and stereoscopic views.
The Studio Véronèse was once located here. It specialized in photography. Later, Diafrance acquired the business. In the early 1970s, Diafrance took over Stéréofilms Bruguière. This company had been making stereoscopes and stereoscopic images since 1946. These vintage items are now sought after by collectors.
Rue Chanzy has also served as a film set. Parts of “Pédale douce” were filmed here in 1996. In 2003, “Les Clefs de bagnole” also used Rue Chanzy for several scenes.
So, Rue Chanzy is more than just a street. It’s a place where history, architecture, and cinema converge.