On a crisp autumn day in 1919, a hush fell over a bustling square in the 17th arrondissement. This, my friends, is Place Charles Fillion. It wasn’t always known by this name. Before the echoes of war faded, it was simply “Place des Batignolles,” a name that harked back to its village days before Paris absorbed it in 1863. But why Charles Fillion? Look around. You see the stately buildings, feel the energy of the city. Imagine it amidst the turmoil of the Great War. A young man, Charles Joseph Fillion, a local councilman, answered the call to arms. He left the comfort of this neighborhood, his home at 85 Rue Boursault just a stone’s throw away. He became a Second Lieutenant in the 403rd Infantry Regiment, fought bravely, and earned the Croix de Guerre. Tragically, he fell on the battlefield on August 3rd, 1917, at a place called Hurtebise Farm. This square, once a symbol of ordinary life, became a tribute to his sacrifice, a reminder that even in the heart of Paris, the echoes of war resonate.
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.