Was he really just a ‘pedestrian of Paris’ as some called him? Place Léon-Paul Fargue, right here before us, is named for a man far more complex than that simple title suggests. Born in 1876, Léon-Paul Fargue walked these Parisian streets, soaking up the atmosphere, the details, the very soul of the city he loved. He wasn’t just a stroller; he was a poet, an essayist, a chronicler of Parisian life in all its gritty glory. Fargue became a fixture in the salons, befriending the likes of Ravel (who even set one of his poems, ‘Rêves’, to music). Imagine, right here at Place Léon-Paul Fargue, you might have glimpsed the man himself, strolling to a nearby café, perhaps after an evening with Picasso. Yes, Picasso! They were having lunch together when Fargue suffered a stroke in 1943. The vibrant streets he loved became a muted backdrop as he lived out his days in his apartment, right over there at number 1. But the city didn’t forget him. Place Léon-Paul Fargue stands as a testament to the man who captured Paris in words, a quiet tribute to the ‘pedestrian’ who, in reality, soared far beyond the pavement.
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.