Avenue Lucien Lanternier

In the heart of Gennevilliers, Avenue Lucien Lanternier stretches before us, a vital artery pulsing with the lifeblood of the city. This avenue, once known as Avenue de Colombes, bears the name of a remarkable figure, Lucien Lanternier, a former mayor of Gennevilliers who left an indelible mark on this community. Avenue Lucien Lanternier isn’t just a street; it’s a thread woven into the historical tapestry of this region. It follows the route of the old national road 186, a path that has witnessed centuries of change and progress. Imagine this avenue in the 1930s, with a tramway rattling along its length, connecting the communities of Nanterre and Saint-Denis. Even earlier, this road, also known as the route de Rueil à Bondy, skirted the grounds of the Château de Gennevilliers. This château, sold to Jean-Étienne-Marie Portalis in 1806, was a landmark of the era. Avenue Lucien Lanternier has seen a dramatic transformation. In the 1960s, the area north of the avenue was a patchwork of gardens, market farms, and workshops known as “la Plaine.” Today, this area is home to the Parc des Bonnequins and the Square Notre-Dame-de-Fatima, green oases amidst the urban landscape. As we stand here, at the intersection of Avenue Lucien Lanternier and Rue Eugène-Varlin, we find the Square Notre-Dame-de-Fatima. This square bears the name of a school that once stood here in the early 19th century. Housed in a building donated by Jean-Baptiste Portalis, then Minister of Religious Affairs, the school played a vital role in the community. Further along Avenue Lucien Lanternier, we encounter another landmark: the Cité du Luth. This housing complex, designed by architects Georges Auzolle and Otello Zavaroni and built between 1965 and 1978, dominates the skyline. The Cité du Luth, named after an 18th-century pathway called “sente du Luth,” stands as a testament to the city’s architectural heritage. Later redesigned by Roland Castro in 1984, it represents the ongoing evolution of Gennevilliers. Avenue Lucien Lanternier, a street named after a dedicated mayor, connects us to the rich history and vibrant present of Gennevilliers.