“Clamart? Is that really Paris?” you may ask. Cit\u00e9 de la P\u00e9pini\u00e8re is indeed a street located in Clamart.
Cit\u00e9 de la P\u00e9pini\u00e8re may not be in the heart of Paris. Yet its story is woven into the larger narrative of the Île-de-France region. Street names often reveal hidden histories. They offer clues to past uses of the land.
Let’s explore the origin of the name P\u00e9pini\u00e8re. P\u00e9pini\u00e8re is French for plant nursery. Royal nurseries once supplied trees shrubs and flowers to royal residences.
In the 17th century a royal nursery existed between the streets of Colis\u00e9e and Berri. It stretched from the Champs-u00c9lys\u00e9es to Rue du Faubourg-Saint-Honor\u00e9. This nursery was abandoned during the R\u00e9gence. The plan to construct a new h\u00f4tel des Monnaies was also abandoned.
Later in 1720 a new royal nursery was created north of the Grand u00c9gout. Its boundaries were defined by current streets. These included Rue de Courcelles and Rue La Bo\u00e9tie. It stretched approximately to Rue de Miromesnil and Boulevard Haussmann. This second nursery was closed in 1826.
The director of this nursery lived in a house rebuilt in 1763. This house was separated by Rue de Courcelles. Abb\u00e9 Nolin a canon of Saint-Marcel was the first resident. His nephew Louis de Lezermes succeeded him after his death in 1794. The botanist Louis Marie Aubert Du Petit-Thouars directed the nursery from 1806. He was the brother of Admiral Du Petit-Thouars.
A path existed since 1555 connecting Faubourg du Roule to a place called “La Pologne”. This path ran south of the second royal nursery. It was named “Chemin de la P\u00e9pini\u00e8re \u00e0 la Pologne”. This path was widened and transformed in 1782. It became Rue de la P\u00e9pini\u00e8re extending Rue d’Angoul\u00eame.
In 1868 the section between Place Saint-Augustin and Place Chassaigne-Goyon was renamed Rue Abbatucci. Later in 1879 it became Rue La Bo\u00e9tie. Rue de la P\u00e9pini\u00e8re retained its name only on the eastern part. This part stretched from Place Saint-Augustin to Place Gabriel-P\u00e9ri.
The story of Cit\u00e9 de la P\u00e9pini\u00e8re in Clamart echoes this Parisian history. It reminds us that even suburban streets carry echoes of royal gardens and historical figures. It is a small piece of a larger green tapestry that once covered the region.