Tucked away in the bustling heart of Paris’s 19th arrondissement is a street that holds a curious name: Rue des Cheminets. What was once a simple lane, known only to locals, is now a testament to the evolution of Paris. This unassuming street, Rue des Cheminets, was never home to grand monuments or opulent palaces. Its story is much humbler, reflecting the everyday lives of Parisians throughout history. The name itself, “Rue des Cheminets,” translates to “Street of the Little Paths.” This might seem quaint now, but it speaks to a time when this area was a network of small lanes and pathways. These paths likely wound through fields and farmland, a far cry from the cityscape we see today. Rue des Cheminets, as we know it, didn’t even exist until the 19th century. It was originally part of a longer street called Rue Lamartine, which extended into the then-independent village of Pré-Saint-Gervais. However, when Paris annexed Pré-Saint-Gervais, Rue des Cheminets was born, a small portion of Rue Lamartine carved out to mark this historic change. Over the years, Rue des Cheminets has witnessed the growth of Paris. It has endured the construction of the Boulevard Périphérique, a ring road that reshaped the city’s edges. Yet, despite these changes, Rue des Cheminets persists, a small lane carrying a big history. It’s a quiet reminder that even in a city as grand as Paris, the stories of everyday life, of little paths and changing landscapes, are just as important as the tales of kings and revolutions.
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.