Can you imagine a place in Paris named after umbrellas? It’s not your typical Parisian scene, but that’s what makes it unique. Welcome to the Carrefour des Parapluies, right here in front of you. This unassuming intersection in Fontenay-sous-Bois holds a hidden history, one that’s woven into the fabric of the city.
The Carrefour des Parapluies was once home to an umbrella factory. In 1902, a company moved from the bustling Rue Saint-Denis in Paris to this quieter location. It covered an impressive 3,000 square meters and employed a team of forty workers. Imagine the sights and sounds of this place – the clatter of machinery, the smell of leather and fabric, and the skilled hands of craftsmen shaping the umbrellas we know and love.
This factory thrived for decades, producing umbrellas for the fashionable Parisians. They even experimented with innovative designs like the “turning umbrella” and the “folding umbrella,” leading the way in umbrella technology. It’s fascinating to think that right here, at this crossroads, a piece of Parisian fashion history was born.
However, the factory was eventually closed in the late 1960s. The era of umbrellas was over, but the name stuck. The intersection was fondly dubbed the Carrefour des Parapluies in memory of the factory that had once stood there. While the factory may be gone, its story lingers, forever etched in the name of this unassuming intersection in Fontenay-sous-Bois. So, as you walk away, take a moment to imagine the creative energy and passion that once pulsed through this place, a testament to the enduring history of Parisian craftsmanship.