“A crossroads of history.” A man in a beret leaned on his cane, nodding towards Place du Général Gouraud. “Named for the general, of course. But it used to be just a piece of the Champ de Mars.” He tapped the ground with his cane. “Imagine that! No grand avenues, just open space stretching out.” Place du Général Gouraud is indeed a hub where several avenues converge. It stands as a testament to the evolution of Paris, once part of the vast Champ de Mars military grounds. The square’s current name honors General Henri Joseph Eugène Gouraud, a key figure in French military history and the military governor of Paris from 1923 to 1937. Before 1955, the square was simply known as Place du Champ de Mars. It’s fascinating how this place, once a nameless expanse, now bears the mark of a military leader and reflects the changing face of the city.
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.