“A town hall consumed by flames?” you might ask. Yes, the Rue de l’Ancienne Mairie in Paris carries a story of destruction and rebirth. The street name itself, “Street of the Old Town Hall,” hints at a past lost to time. Let’s rewind to 1860. The 12th arrondissement of Paris was newly formed. It encompassed the former 8th arrondissement, a significant part of Saint-Mandé, and all of Bercy. The town hall chosen for this new arrondissement? It was the Bercy Town Hall, a building dating back to 1844. It stood at the northwest corner of the Place de l’Eglise and Rue de Bercy. However, this town hall met a fiery end during the tumultuous Paris Commune uprising in May 1871. As the flames died down, the 12th arrondissement needed a new administrative heart. The offices were temporarily scattered across various nearby locations. Eventually, the Rue de l’Ancienne Mairie bore witness to the construction of a new town hall. This time, it was designed by Antoine-Julien Hénard, a prominent architect of the era. Completed between 1874 and 1877, this new town hall became the symbol of resilience and renewal for the 12th arrondissement. Today, as you stroll along the Rue de l’Ancienne Mairie, remember the ghosts of the past. The street’s name whispers a tale of a town hall lost, a community disrupted, and ultimately, a city that rebuilds stronger from the ashes.
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.