Could Avenue du Bois Joli possibly hide secrets of emperors and empresses? Probably not. However, let’s take a stroll down this path together.
Avenue du Bois Joli. It may sound grand. It might conjure images of a royal hunting ground. In reality, this avenue whispers stories of Parisian reinvention.
The name “Bois de Boulogne” pops up often in Parisian history. It was once an ancient oak forest. Kings and nobles hunted there. But our Avenue du Bois Joli is not directly linked to those grand events.
Imagine Napoleon III. He decided to transform Paris. He wanted parks like London’s Hyde Park. That is how Bois de Boulogne became a public park. However, Avenue du Bois Joli is a street in Le Plessis-Trévise.
The Bois de Boulogne did become a fashionable place. Parisians promenaded in carriages. Artists painted scenes from the park. Writers set their novels there. However, we are standing on Avenue du Bois Joli, a street far removed from that glamour.
Let’s talk about names. Many streets in Paris have changed names over the years. A “rue du Bois” became rue Planchat in 1875. An “avenue du Bois-de-Boulogne” became avenue Foch in 1929. Our Avenue du Bois Joli has retained its name.
Could this avenue have once been a simple country lane? Perhaps. The “chemin des Boeufs” became rues Marcadet and de la Jonquière. Old paths often transform into modern streets.
It is highly unlikely that Avenue du Bois Joli was ever part of that forest. Yet the name reminds us of the green spaces in Paris. Think of the Jardin d’Acclimatation. It was a zoo and amusement park. Or the Shakespeare Garden with its trees and flowers.
So what is the Avenue du Bois Joli? It is a reminder of Paris’s green past. It hints at the Bois de Boulogne. It provides a peaceful contrast.
Our walk ends here. Avenue du Bois Joli is a quiet street. It might not boast a grand history. Its name echoes through time, but it has its own quiet charm.