Perhaps a tragic accident forever marked Boulevard Lefebvre. Today we’ll walk this Parisian path together. I will share its history and some lesser-known facts. Boulevard Lefebvre lies in the 15th arrondissement. It is part of the Boulevards of the Marshals. These boulevards encircle Paris.
But first, picture this: Paris in the mid-19th century. The Thiers wall stood tall. It was a military fortification. Around 1840, this wall and its surroundings profoundly impacted Paris. It complicated the relationship between the city and its suburbs. The Rue Militaire ran inside the wall.
In 1859, the city council gained some control. They began converting sections of the Rue Militaire into boulevards. Boulevard Lefebvre was among the first. It officially received its name on March 2, 1864. The boulevard got its name from Franҫois Joseph Lefebvre. He was the Duke of Dantzig. More importantly, he was a Marshal of France under Napoleon.
These upgraded streets were named for marshals of the First French Empire. This is why they are collectively known as the Boulevards of the Marshals. The concept took decades to realize. By 1932, most sections were complete. However, the final three sections weren’t finished until 2005. Of the 22 boulevards, 19 bear the names of these marshals.
Now, let’s consider a darker chapter. In January 1964, disaster struck. A building under construction collapsed. This happened on the northern side of Boulevard Lefebvre. The accident killed at least 20 people. It injured at least 18. This tragedy became known as the Boulevard Lefebvre disaster. The former buildings of the Central Civil Engineering Laboratory stand on the boulevard’s southern side.
Today, Boulevard Lefebvre is easily accessible. The tramway Line 3a serves the area. This replaced the earlier Petite Ceinture bus line. Along Boulevard Lefebvre, you’ll find notable sites. These include the Exhibitions Center and the Dôme de Paris. Also located here is the Church of Saint Anthony of Padua. Jules Lavirotte built a low-rent house at No. 169 in 1906.
During World War I, Boulevard Lefebvre faced danger from above. On March 30, 1918, a shell fired by the Grosse Bertha exploded at No. 105. Today you can also see a Wallace fountain painted red near the entrance to the exhibition park at the Porte de Versailles.
As you walk along Boulevard Lefebvre, remember its layers of history. From military origins to tragic accidents and modern accessibility, it is a place of contrasts. Consider the vision of Napoleon and the lives impacted by unforeseen events. Boulevard Lefebvre stands as a testament to Paris’s ever-evolving story.