Cours de Vincennes a Parisian artery. Imagine yourself standing at Place de la Nation. Before you stretches the Cours de Vincennes a grand avenue. It links Place de la Nation to Porte de Vincennes. It’s a major thoroughfare. It also serves as a boundary. This impressive street separates Paris’s 12th and 20th arrondissements. Built before 1860 the Cours de Vincennes is more than just a road. It holds a significant place in Paris’s history.
The Cours de Vincennes wasn’t always called that. Before 1860 it was known as Avenue de Vincennes. It’s an important part of Route nationale 34. The Cours de Vincennes starts its journey at the Place de la Nation. It continues its path through the heart of Paris. It finally ends at the Porte de Vincennes. This journey wasn’t easy to create. This was not a simple project. It took time and considerable effort. A great deal of earth had to be moved. The Cours de Vincennes was constructed on a fill. This was necessary to overcome a valley. This valley is the valley of Fécamp. Even today you can sense the rising terrain from the adjacent streets. The road wasn’t paved until the reign of Louis XV.
The Cours de Vincennes has seen it all. It has witnessed the construction of elegant buildings. It has seen the rise of businesses. It has also seen the passing of time. During World War I the Cours de Vincennes was even impacted by war. On January 30 1918 numbers 100 and 102 were hit during a German air raid. The Cours de Vincennes’s story continues. It is a bustling street of commerce and life. It boasts the Printemps-Nation department store. It is home to the Lycée Hélène-Boucher and Lycée Maurice-Ravel. The Cours de Vincennes also features a large market every Wednesday and Saturday. This market brings the community together. It truly is the beating heart of the eastern side of Paris.
You can trace its path. It’s marked by significant intersections. Rue Marsoulan for example was once called Rue Ruty. Its name changed in 1912. The avenue du Docteur-Arnold-Netter was also part of the Avenue du Général-Michel-Bizot until 1962. On the north side the Cours de Vincennes meets Boulevard de Charonne. It also intersects with Rue Lucien-et-Sacha-Guitry. This street was known as Rue Lucien-Guitry until 1969. Other intersecting streets include Rue Félix-Huguenet Rue des Pyrénées Rue des Marais Rue du Général-Niessel and Boulevard Davout. Each intersection tells a story. Each one adds to the rich tapestry of the Cours de Vincennes.
So next time you walk along the Cours de Vincennes remember this. Remember its history its challenges and its triumphs. It’s more than just a road. It’s a living testament to Paris’s enduring spirit. The Cours de Vincennes represents a significant part of Parisian history. This is a place where the past and the present collide. Its story continues to unfold with each passing day.