Was there ever a time when the Passage Rivière was a tranquil waterway? It’s hard to imagine amidst the bustling streets of today’s Paris. Yet, this unassuming passage once sat alongside a real waterway. The Rue des Cendriers, which intersects with the Passage Rivière, used to end at this very spot. This was before the grand urban renewal projects of the 19th century, when the city decided to cover up the old stream that flowed here. Imagine the scene back then. The air thick with the smells of baking bread and woodsmoke. A small, meandering stream flowing where the pavement now lies. The stream even had a rather unromantic name: the ‘Grand Égout’, essentially the ‘Grand Sewer’. This wasn’t entirely unfair, as it served as a drainage system for the burgeoning city. Still, the image of the Passage Rivière alongside a flowing stream offers a glimpse into a forgotten 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.