Allée du Chemin Vert

“A path less traveled?” you might wonder, standing before this unassuming alleyway. You are at the entrance to Allée du Chemin Vert, tucked away in the 11th arrondissement. It might seem unassuming now but this little passage holds a secret, a whisper of Paris’s greener past. Allée du Chemin Vert translates to “Green Path Alley,” a name that might seem at odds with its current appearance. But close your eyes for a moment and imagine a time when this very spot was a verdant pathway. This alley once wound its way through lush market gardens, a stark contrast to the bustling city streets that surround it today. These gardens, known as “des Amandiers” or “almond trees,” painted the landscape with vibrant colors, their bounty feeding the city. The Allée du Chemin Vert stands as a testament to this forgotten landscape, a small echo of a time when Paris was a tapestry of green spaces and bustling city life. These market gardens might be long gone, replaced by the city’s growth, but their memory lives on in this quiet corner of Paris. So the next time you find yourself strolling through the 11th arrondissement, take a detour down the Allée du Chemin Vert. Let its name transport you back to a greener, more tranquil Paris.