“Why name a street after an engineer?” I mused, as we stand here at Allée Marc Seguin. Allée Marc Seguin in Paris is named after the French engineer Marc Seguin. He lived from 1786 to 1875.
Marc Seguin was the inventor of the tubalar boiler. The street’s history is quite interesting. Part of Allée Marc Seguin was once Rue du Four. This was from 1540 to 1758. It referred to the village oven of La Chapelle. Another section between Rue de la Chapelle and Rue de l’Évangile was Rue des Francs-Bourgeois. The old convent of the Dames de Nancy was also located there. It was at number 36. Also a section between Rue de l’Évangile and Rue Pajol was once Rue Robert. Rue Robert was named after the owner.
In 1868, a decree united these sections. They were renamed Rue Seguin. Later, it became Rue Marc Seguin. The street is in the 18th arrondissement of Paris. Allée Marc Seguin begins at 7 Rue Cugnot. It ends at 24 Rue de la Chapelle. Along the way, it intersects with other streets. These include Rue Pajol and Rue de l’Évangile. The street also passes between two squares. These are Square Marc Seguin and Square de la Madone.
Square Marc Seguin sits at the intersection of Allée Marc Seguin and Rue de l’Évangile. Before 2006, the square was mainly used for playing pétanque. Pétanque is a popular French ball game. Today you can still play it there. The square also offers chess and a ping-pong table for public use.
Allée Marc Seguin stretches 405 meters. It is 12 meters wide. Today, Allée Marc Seguin stands as a testament. It honors an engineer. His inventions helped shape the world we know today. Next time you pass a steam engine, remember Marc Seguin. His ingenuity lives on. Allée Marc Seguin is more than just a street. It is a piece of Parisian history.