“Lost your way, have you?” chuckled a voice from a doorway. Right, this unassuming little alleyway, squeezed between buildings in La Courneuve, is the Impasse du Puits Ferry. It might seem inconsequential now, but this little street has a surprisingly colorful past. You see, the Impasse du Puits Ferry wasn’t always a “desire”. Before the French Revolution, it was simply known as the “Allée du Puits” or “Impasse du Puits,” “Puits” meaning well. Locals relied on a well around here for their water. Then, in 1789, the name changed to Passage du Désir, a far more intriguing title, wouldn’t you say? Theories abound about the name change. Some whisper about a “maison de passe”, a discreet establishment for gentlemen, perhaps catering to officers during Napoleon’s time? Others claim this was a shortcut to a “place of pleasure,” a euphemism likely referring to one of the small hotels that once stood here. Whatever the true story, the Impasse du Puits Ferry, tucked away behind the bustling Boulevard de Strasbourg, remains a quiet echo of a more scandalous era in this corner of Paris.
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.