Once, a humble path snaked its way through fields. Now, we stand at Place du Hameau. It is a street in Paris. Specifically, it is in the 15th arrondissement.
The story of Place du Hameau begins with its name. It owes its name to a hamlet. This hamlet existed near here in the early 19th century.
Originally, the area was part of a route to Issy. Rue Desnouettes allowed people to leave Paris. It headed southwest toward Issy. At its end, the route split. Two paths led to the village. One was Rue Notre-Dame. The other was Chemin des Sables. Today, Chemin des Sables is Place du Hameau.
Before being called Chemin des Sables, it was known as Chemin Blaumet. It was the southern extension of Rue Blomet. A marquis de Feuquières’ estate cut it off in the 18th century.
On a map from 1730, the path is already shown. In 1818, it got its new name. It became Chemin du Hameau. This was due to the nearby “hameau du Brave-Homme”. Philanthropist Desrues had this built.
In 1902, something interesting was unearthed nearby. Workers found Gallo-Roman tombs. These tombs dated back to the 2nd century. This discovery suggested a cemetery. It might have existed in this area during that era.
Even war touched Place du Hameau. On August 6, 1918, a shell hit number 42. It was launched by the Grosse Bertha. This happened during World War I.
Today, Place du Hameau features some notable buildings. At number 23, the Petite Ceinture overlooks the street. This is a former railway line. It has been converted into a green space. At number 25, the Postel-Vinay telephone company was located. It was absorbed by Thomson-Houston in 1904. Later, in 1925, Edgar Brandt set up his art ironwork studio here.
Thus, Place du Hameau carries layers of history. From ancient paths to modern city streets, it has evolved. It has seen hamlets rise and fall. It has even felt the impact of war.