The Seine River, winding through the heart of Gennevilliers, is a constant presence. We are standing at the edge of this historical waterway, on the Quai des Gréssillons, a place named after an ancestral hunting lodge that once stood here.
The Quai des Gréssillons is a testament to the changing face of Gennevilliers. Once a simple towpath used to transport goods along the Seine, it transformed in the late 19th century into a hub for industrial activity. Many companies flocked to this location, drawn by the river’s accessibility for shipping. Gennevilliers’s peninsula, where the Quai des Gréssillons lies, sits at a very low altitude; its banks are largely artificial, likely reinforced or created during the 18th century.
Today, the Quai des Gréssillons is a blend of the past and the present. It stands near the bustling Parc d’Activités des Gréssillons, home to companies like CAMECA, and the Bellevue semolina mill. It also boasts an ambitious, ongoing project known as Jeuneville, a vertical neighborhood designed by renowned architects Jean Nouvel and Samuel Nageotte. Furthermore, the nearby Les Caboeufs service structure is planned for integration into Line 15 of the Paris Metro, taking advantage of the easy access to the Seine for barge-based debris removal.
Look around, and imagine the history unfolding. From the echo of the towpaths to the roar of industrialization, the Quai des Gréssillons is a fascinating microcosm of the evolution of a city. This humble quai is a bridge between the past and the future, where history meets innovation, and legacy blends with progress.