“A street named after a president?” you ask, intrigued. You’re right here in front of Avenue Mac-Mahon. This grand avenue, stretching from the Place Charles de Gaulle to Avenue des Ternes, is indeed named after a former French president, Patrice de Mac Mahon. He wasn’t just any president. A decorated soldier, he served as the 3rd President of the French Republic from 1873 to 1879. But his story is far more enthralling than just a political figurehead. Born into an Irish family who sought refuge in France in 1689, Mac Mahon rose through the ranks of the French military. His moment of glory? The Battle of Magenta in 1859 during the Italian campaign. He, almost by a stroke of luck and daring, propelled his troops forward without waiting for orders at a crucial juncture. This audacious move secured a French victory. Impressed, Napoleon III bestowed upon him the prestigious title of Duke of Magenta and the marshal’s baton, the highest military honor. The avenue that bears his name today was initially christened “Avenue du Prince-Jérôme” after Napoleon I’s younger brother. Only in 1875, during Mac Mahon’s presidency, was it renamed in his honor. Today, Avenue Mac-Mahon stands as a grand reminder of a military hero and president, forever etched in the story of Paris.
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.