“Halt. Before you is not just a street. It is Rue du Hameau Fleuri.” This name echoes a history of verdant landscapes. It speaks of a tranquil village swallowed by the ever-growing city.
Rue du Hameau Fleuri owes its existence to Auguste Lévêque. In 1850, Lévêque acquired a large plot of land. This land measured approximately 30,000 square meters. It was situated roughly opposite the current Seine Musicale.
Lévêque created two peaceful alleys. These were named allée des Pervenches and allée des Myosotis. They ran between the rue du Hameau and the Seine. These three roads no longer exist. Lévêque divided his land into lots. He resold them starting in 1862.
Lévêque included a clause in every sale contract. This clause strictly forbade buyers from cutting down trees. It also required them to replant trees if they died. This idea was remarkably modern for the time.
The Hameau Fleuri was enclosed by three iron gates. A guard ensured peace and quiet. Old photos reveal a bucolic. It was a shady and irresistible scene far from the city’s noise.
The green space attracted wealthy residents. These included artist Albert Fourré. There were also lawyers, pharmacists, and engineers. Even the Cardinal Archbishop of Paris, Monseigneur Amette, lived here.
Entrepreneur Henri Levoyer established a lingerie business here. In 1889, he founded an orphanage. He entrusted it first to the Sisters of Marie-Joseph. Later, he thanked the Servite Sisters in early 1903.
The long building of the Vignon-Pommier laundry was also located here. It specialized in delicate fabrics like veils.
During the great flood of 1910, the Hameau Fleuri suffered greatly. It was very close to the Seine.
Sadly, the Hameau Fleuri disappeared. Louis Renault coveted the land between 1911 and 1917. He pressured owners to sell their plots. He used proxies to buy the land. The protected trees were cut down. It was wartime. Authorities turned a blind eye. The armament manufacturer was not to be disturbed.
The rue de Sèvres was the old name for the rue du Hameau. Today, large buildings stand on Quai Georges Gorse. These include cafes and restaurants. Billancourt Park is here too. After its industrial interlude, the area regained some of its original greenery. Unfortunately, no trace remains of this peaceful haven.
The rue du Hameau Fleuri is a small street near the market square. It was named long after the original Hameau Fleuri. It is not located on the original site.
Now, when you stroll along the Rue du Hameau Fleuri. Remember the lost village. Remember the trees and the peace. Remember the families who once called it home.