Place d’Israël

Did the city of Paris truly honor a nation by naming a simple intersection after it? Let’s explore Place d’Israël, right here at the junction of Avenue de Wagram and streets like Rue Ampère and Rue Brémontier. Place d’Israël, a rather unassuming name for a place with such a diplomatically charged backstory. It wasn’t always called this. In fact, this intersection, graced by elegant Art Deco architecture like the Hôtel Mercedes and the building at 1 Rue Alphonse-de-Neuville, remained nameless until 1960. Then, in a gesture of international recognition, the city council proposed naming it after Israel. The proposal highlighted that Paris honored nations by naming streets after them, but Israel had been overlooked. The timing is intriguing. Place d’Israël’s naming coincided with a warming of Franco-Israeli relations after the Suez Crisis of 1956. The very next year, Golda Meir made an official visit to France. Interestingly, Jerusalem reciprocated by naming a square “Place de France” in 1959, often called “Place de Paris.” Back at Place d’Israël, during the Six-Day War, this spot, near the then Israeli embassy on Avenue de Wagram, became a focal point. People gathered here to show their support for Israel. This outpouring of solidarity marked a shift for French Judaism, which had previously been more reserved in its political expressions. Now, let’s take a step back in time. Before the grand avenues and elegant buildings, this area was undeveloped until the 1860s. The Pereire brothers then laid out the streets, transforming the marshy fields and vacant lots. While places like du Brésil and Wagram quickly developed with their uniform facades, the rest of the area, including what is now Place d’Israël, remained relatively untouched until 1875. Over the following decades, wealthy families and artists flocked to the area, commissioning grand hôtels particuliers in the eclectic styles of the late 19th century. These architectural gems, sadly, were largely demolished during the 20th century to make way for modern buildings. One survivor is the modest three-story building at the corner of Avenue de Wagram and Rue Ampère, a relic of the 1880s that miraculously escaped the wrecking ball. Place d’Israël therefore represents a fascinating architectural crossroads, showcasing the evolution of Parisian styles from Haussmann to Art Deco and beyond.