Hidden in the 13th arrondissement of Paris lies Rue Bobillot. A seemingly ordinary street its name holds a poignant story. Rue Bobillot is named after Sergeant Jules Bobillot a true hero of the Franco-Chinese War.
Born in Paris in 1860 Bobillot began his life as a journalist. At 20 he joined the 4th Engineering Regiment. During the war he showed incredible bravery at the Siege of Tuyen Quang. He was severely wounded there. A month later he died in a Hanoi hospital.
Despite his short life Bobillot quickly became a colonial hero. He symbolized the patriotism promoted by the Third Republic. His ashes were returned to Grenoble’s Saint-Roch Cemetery in 1966. A bust of him stands in Place Paul-Verlaine a square that Rue Bobillot crosses. An earlier bronze statue once stood on Boulevard Voltaire but was unfortunately melted down during the Occupation.
The creation of Rue Bobillot itself is fascinating. It wasn’t built until the Bièvre Valley was filled in the late 19th century. This was a significant undertaking. Many streets in the area were built to serve the new Glacière-Gentilly goods station on the Petite Ceinture line. Rue Bobillot was constructed in two phases. First in 1893 between Place de Rungis and Rue de la Butte-aux-Cailles. Then in 1896 between Rue de la Butte-aux-Cailles and Place d’Italie.
Rue Bobillot isn’t just a street. It’s a living testament to a brave soldier. It’s a reminder of a significant period in French history. It’s a piece of Paris’s rich past. It’s a story whispered in the Parisian breeze. A story only the cobbles of Rue Bobillot can fully tell.