Rue Changarnier

Did General Changarnier ever imagine a street named after him in Paris? Here we stand on Rue Changarnier. It’s nestled in the 12th arrondissement, in the Bel-Air quarter. This street whispers a tale connected to France’s colonial past. Rue Changarnier wasn’t always here. It appeared in 1932, replacing part of a bastion from the old Thiers wall. Its creation coincided with the 1931 International Colonial Exposition held in the nearby Bois de Vincennes and the opening of the Palais de la Porte Dorée. The street’s name honors General Nicolas Anne Théodule Changarnier (1793-1877). But Rue Changarnier holds more than just a general’s name. It played a role in Paris’s efforts to address its growing population in the early 1920s. The city initiated a program of affordable housing known as HBM. Rue Changarnier became part of this initiative, providing much-needed homes for Parisians. At number 4 Rue Changarnier, a plaque commemorates Fernand Musnik, a resistance fighter who lived here before his deportation to Auschwitz. So, as you stroll along Rue Changarnier, remember its layers of history. From a military bastion to affordable housing, it reflects Paris’s evolving urban landscape and its colonial legacy. The story of Rue Changarnier connects us to the city’s past. It shows the impact of war, expansion, and social change.