“A cross adorned with boxwood.” That image might conjure a Palm Sunday scene. It actually explains the name of Allée la Boissière. This is the story of a street that evolved over centuries. It reflects the changing face of Paris.
Allée la Boissière lies in the 16th arrondissement. This district is known for its elegance and history. The street connects Place d’Iéna and Place Victor-Hugo. It crosses Avenue Kléber near its midpoint.
Let’s dive into its past. Before 1730, this area was just a path. It stretched between Rue Hamelin and Avenue Kléber. The path became a street. It was first named Rue du Coeur-Volant. This translates to “Street of the Flying Heart”. The name came from a cabaret sign. Later, it became Rue de la Croix-Boissière. Eventually, it was named Allée la Boissière. The street got its current name in 1868.
The name Allée la Boissière is linked to an old cross. This cross was decorated with boxwood. The decorations were for special occasions. Palm Sunday was one such day. The “Boissière” part refers to “buis”. This is the French word for boxwood.
Allée la Boissière has witnessed many changes. It has seen Paris transform around it. The street’s layout has also adapted. In its northwest section, traffic flows one way. This is from Place Victor-Hugo to Avenue Kléber. The southeast section allows two-way traffic. The street has gentle slopes. It sits on two sides of Chaillot hill. Its highest point is at the intersection with Rue Lauriston.
Several notable buildings line Allée la Boissière. The Musée Guimet begins on the even-numbered side. At number 11 lived Dr. André Raiga. He was an officer in the Legion of Honour. He was also related to Georges Clemenceau. Ettore Bugatti, the Italian inventor, lived at number 20. He kept an apartment there until his death. He hosted many social gatherings there.
The building at 20 bis was designed by Octave Courtois-Suffit. Historian Georges Goyau lived there until his death in 1939. A commemorative plaque marks the building. Hôtel Le Vavasseur is at number 21. This 19th-century mansion is a historical monument.
Poets Henri de Régnier and Marie de Régnier lived at number 24. Marie wrote under the name Gérard d’Houville. A plaque honors them. The Cuban legation was at number 25 in the early 1900s. Writer René Laporte lived at number 40 from 1931 to 1939.
The building at number 45 was designed by Paul Sédille. In 1937, a far-right group bombed the site. The building housed the Union of metallurgical industries. A policeman guarding the building died in the explosion. Later, filmmaker Louis Malle lived there.
Raoul Gradis, a painter, lived at number 47. Photos show damage to his salon from a 1940 bomb. The private school Saint-Honoré d’Eylau started at number 54. The Dutch legation was at number 59 in the 1900s.
France-USSR association was at number 61. Today, it houses a Russian cultural center. Sainte-Thérèse-de-l’Enfant-Jésus chapel is at 71 bis. It features murals by André Sauvage.
So, as you stroll down Allée la Boissière, remember its layers. From a simple path to a street of notable residents. From a cross adorned with boxwood to a modern Parisian address. The name itself tells a story of tradition. It is linked to the vibrant life that has unfolded here.