Stepping onto Place Antoine Furetière, you’re standing in a small rectangle of calm amidst the bustling 12th arrondissement. This unassuming square, named after the celebrated 17th-century writer and lexicographer, holds a fascinating story. You see, Antoine Furetière, a man who dared to challenge the French Academy with his ambitious dictionary, had a life filled with both scholarly brilliance and controversy. He published his dictionary, ‘Dictionnaire universel’, after being expelled from the Academy in 1685. The place is surrounded by a charming ensemble of streets like Rue du Général-Archinard, Rue de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, and Avenue du Général-Messimy, each telling its own tale. Imagine the bustling marketplace that once stood here, its echoes replaced by the quiet hum of Parisian life. Today, Place Antoine Furetière is a peaceful haven, perhaps a fitting tribute to the writer whose words continue to resonate through time. The square’s proximity to Lycee Paul-Valéry, a prestigious school, and Cimetière Sud de Saint-Mandé, a bustling cemetery, adds a poignant layer to the story. It’s a space where past and present collide, inviting reflection and contemplation over the legacy of a man who dared to challenge the status quo.
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.