Here stands the Boulevard Macdonald a testament to Parisian history. Boulevard Macdonald is part of the chain of outer boulevards. These boulevards are named after marshals. They are known as “boulevards des Maréchaux”.
Boulevard Macdonald resides in the 19th arrondissement of Paris. It stretches 1,800 meters. Its width varies between 13.60 and 36 meters. The boulevard starts from the canal de l’Ourcq. It passes by the porte de la Villette. Then it crosses the canal Saint-Denis. Finally, Boulevard Macdonald arrives at the porte d’Aubervilliers and rue d’Aubervilliers. Here, it gives way to boulevard Ney.
The naming of Boulevard Macdonald dates back to 1864. It was named in honor of Étienne Jacques Joseph Alexandre Macdonald. He was the duc de Tarente and a Maréchal de France. Étienne Macdonald lived from 1765 to 1840.
Boulevard Macdonald is part of a belt of boulevards. This was created from 1861. It runs along the Thiers wall. It replaced the rue Militaire.
Let’s talk about some interesting historical events that touched Boulevard Macdonald. On March 30, 1918, during World War I, a shell launched by the Grosse Bertha exploded at the gas factory on Boulevard Macdonald. Later, on May 31, 1918, another shell fell on the Eastern railway tracks.
Several notable buildings and memorial sites mark Boulevard Macdonald. At number 1 was the factory and headquarters of Weidknecht. They were builders and importers of steam locomotives. Number 2 was the site of bastion number 27. This was part of the Thiers wall. The new Andral hospital was set up here in 1903. At number 95 was the home of Suzanne Masson. She was a resistant who was guillotined in Hamburg in 1943.
At number 110 is the Macdonald garage. It is managed by the police headquarters. It handles the mechanical maintenance and bodywork of Parisian police vehicles. Police officers nicknamed it “Mac Do”. Number 159 marks the location of a gas factory. The balloon Le Zénith departed from here in 1875. Numbers 141 to 219 housed the Entrepôt Macdonald. This old warehouse was redeveloped between 2010 and 2015. It now houses homes, offices, and public facilities.
Today, Boulevard Macdonald is easily accessible. You can reach it via tram line 3b. You can also use metro stations Porte de la Villette, Corentin Cariou, and Porte de la Chapelle. The RER station Rosa-Parks is also nearby. Several bus lines serve Boulevard Macdonald. These include lines 35, 45, 54 and 60.
The jardin Anaïs-Nin near porte d’Aubervilliers is close to the Boulevard Macdonald. It features a work by artist Pierre Ardouvin. It is called Tu me fais tourner la tête. It consists of fairground ride nacelles. They are fixed to the top of metal rods. They light up at night.
From a military road to a modern boulevard, Boulevard Macdonald has transformed. It reflects the evolving character of Paris. It blends history, culture, and contemporary life. As you stroll along Boulevard Macdonald, take a moment. Think about the echoes of the past. Consider the vibrant present. This is a Parisian experience.