“A philosopher’s square?” a curious tourist asked, looking at the small island in the middle of the Marne River. Île de l’Abreuvoir is a tiny island. The bridge connecting Champigny-sur-Marne to Saint-Maur-des-Fossés passes over it. The island itself is only a few hundred meters long. It is little more than a small patch of trees and bushes. The island is most famous for its little bridge. The bridge carries not only cars and pedestrians, but also the RER A train line. The island itself is uninhabited, but it’s a popular spot for people to walk and relax on. It’s not known for any particularly exciting history. It’s not the ideal place for a philosopher to contemplate the meaning of life, but the name implies that the area was once an important source of water for the surrounding area. There are still some old water troughs near the island.
Église Notre-Dame de l’Air
Beneath what appears to be a simple stone and wood structure lies a history interwoven with faith aviation and community.