Rue des Bas Rogers

Hidden in plain sight, the Rue des Bas Rogers whispers tales of innovation and history. This street, straddling Puteaux and Suresnes, isn’t just a road; it’s a thread woven into the fabric of French aviation and local lore. Rue des Bas Rogers derives its name from the “Bois Roger,” a wooded area that once graced this landscape. In 1552, this area belonged to a family from Suresnes, back when much of the land was still covered in forests. The street itself has seen many names, from Chemin des Bas-Rogers and Chemin de Nanterre-à-Puteaux to Rue des Chênes-aux-Cinq-Arches, before officially becoming Rue des Bas Rogers in 1870. Imagine, in 1902, the rumble of early engines disturbing the peace of number 28 Rue des Bas Rogers. Here, Léon Levavasseur and Jules Gastambide pioneered aviation, creating the Antoinette engine. This engine, named after Gastambide’s daughter, first powered motorboats before taking to the skies. A plaque now commemorates their ingenuity at this very spot. As you walk along Rue des Bas Rogers, look for the intersection with Allée Santos-Dumont. A mural and plaque honor the famous aviator. Further down, at the corner of Rue Voltaire, stands the impressive Viaduc des Bas-Rogers, also known as the Pont des Cinq Arches. This five-arched bridge, built in 1886, carries the Moulineaux railway line. Rue des Bas Rogers also borders two cemeteries: the Cimetière Voltaire de Suresnes (formerly the Nouveau Cimetière des Bas-Rogers) and the Cimetière Ancien de Puteaux. The Rue des Bas Rogers isn’t just a street; it’s a journey through time, connecting the whispers of the past to the present day.