Tucked away in the 19th arrondissement, Rue de la Grenade holds a secret. It’s not just a street. It’s a whisper of Paris’s past. Rue de la Grenade wasn’t always its name. It inherited its name from a popular guinguette. This lively establishment thrived during the Bourbon Restoration. In 1814, residents of Pré-Saint-Gervais sought refuge within its walls. They hid their belongings from the approaching Allied forces. Imagine the scene. The hurried footsteps, the hushed voices, the fear and uncertainty hanging in the air. Rue de la Grenade became a sanctuary. Before its current name, Rue de la Grenade was part of Rue Béranger. Rue Béranger was located in Pré-Saint-Gervais. This area was annexed to Paris in 1930. The section of the street, from Rue de la Marseillaise to Rue Béranger, received its current name in 1932. This renaming marked a transition, a shift from old to new. But the echoes of the past still linger. The construction of the Boulevard Périphérique in 1966 further reshaped Rue de la Grenade. The street was shortened. The section between Rue Béranger and Rue des Sept-Arpents was temporarily designated as “voie BC/19”. This alteration physically changed the street. Yet, the essence of its history remains, tucked away like a precious memory. Rue de la Grenade. It’s more than just a street. It’s a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, a reminder of a time when a simple guinguette became a haven. Today, as you walk along Rue de la Grenade, take a moment to imagine the stories it holds. Feel the weight of history beneath your feet.
Église Notre-Dame de l’Air
Beneath what appears to be a simple stone and wood structure lies a history interwoven with faith aviation and community.