“A street named after a watchtower?” someone in the group might wonder. You’re standing right before Allée de la Tourelle. This charming pathway holds a story that stretches back to the heart of Saint-Mandé. Allée de la Tourelle marks the border between the bustling 12th arrondissement of Paris and the calmer commune of Saint-Mandé. This street, friends, gets its name from the long-gone “Tourelle de Saint-Mandé”. This watchtower, sadly demolished in 1908, once stood guard where Place du Général-Leclerc is today in Saint-Mandé. Imagine, if you will, the change Allée de la Tourelle witnessed. Its birth in the 1860s coincided with the grand transformation of Bois de Vincennes into the public park we cherish today. It was the renowned landscape architect, Adolphe Alphand, who shaped this area, leaving his mark on Parisian history. Next time you stroll down Allée de la Tourelle, remember the vanished watchtower and the echoes of history it represents.
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.