“A croquet gate?” you ask, eyebrows raised in amusement. “In the heart of Paris?” Well, not quite a croquet gate in the literal sense. Porte Maillot, this bustling gateway we stand before, actually gets its name from “maille”, the French word for croquet. It’s believed that this area, once a simple gate leading to the Bois de Boulogne, was a popular spot for the game. Imagine Parisians in their finery, enjoying a leisurely afternoon of croquet right where we stand! Today, Porte Maillot is a far cry from its croquet-playing past. It’s a major intersection, a hubbub of activity where the grand avenues of Charles de Gaulle and de la Grande Armée converge. But look closely, and you can still catch glimpses of its history. The spirit of the old gate lives on in the name, a whisper of a time when life in Paris moved at a slightly slower pace.
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.