Across the expanse of Boulevard Lannes, the Ambassade de Russie stands as a testament to history and international relations. The Ambassade de Russie in Paris wasn’t always located here. Before its grand opening in 1977, the embassy searched for a larger space to accommodate its growing diplomatic staff. An agreement was reached with France, resulting in the exchange of land. The Soviet Union ceded this plot on Boulevard Lannes, previously a municipal sports field, in return for an equivalent area in Moscow for the French embassy’s expansion. This architectural marvel, designed by a trio of Russian architects – Anatoli Klimotchkine, Dmitri Lisitchkine, and Igor Pokrovski, was inaugurated by Leonid Brezhnev, then president of the praesidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. Imagine the scene: a formal luncheon within these walls, hosted by Brezhnev for the visiting French President Valéry Giscard d’Estaing! After the fall of the Soviet Union, the building transitioned from representing the USSR to becoming the embassy of the Russian Federation, signifying continuity between the two states. Today, the Ambassade de Russie continues to be a hub of diplomatic activity, representing Russia’s interests in France and serving as a bridge between the two nations.
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.