Once upon a time, trains roared where we now stand in Jardin de la Gare de Charonne. This Parisian green space whispers tales of a bustling past. It invites us to step back in time.
This garden sits in Paris’s 20th arrondissement. It occupies the site of the old Charonne station. The station punctuated the Petite Ceinture line.
The Petite Ceinture was a railway that circled Paris. The Charonne station opened in 1869. It was built over the tracks.
Imagine the steam, the whistles, and the crowds. The station connected people and goods. It was a vital part of Parisian life.
But the Petite Ceinture closed in 1934. The Charonne station fell into disuse. It was a silent relic of a bygone era.
Between 1995 and 2016, the old station building housed a concert venue. A pub was planned for the spot in 2018.
The adjacent freight station, Gare de Charonne-Marchandises, met a different fate. Built in 1855, it stood between the Petite Ceinture and Boulevard Davout. After the line closed, the freight station was demolished in the 1980s. A new building and this garden were built.
Jardin de la Gare de Charonne was created in 1986. It runs along the old patrol path. This path once bordered the fortified wall of Thiers. Today, that path is known as Boulevard Davout. The Porte de Montreuil once allowed passage through these fortifications.
Take a moment to appreciate this green haven. It is a place of tranquility now. Consider its layered history. The Jardin de la Gare de Charonne is more than just a garden. It is a living reminder of Paris’s ever-evolving story.