What whispers of the past echo along the Rue des Marguerites? This street resides in the Bel-Air quarter of Paris’s 12th arrondissement. The Rue des Marguerites is accessible via metro line 1 at the Porte de Vincennes station.
The name Marguerites is an alteration of “marguerite”. Marguerite is the French word for daisy. This suggests a once rural or pastoral setting. The street’s history stretches back before 1800. The street appears on the cadastre maps of 1813. At that time, the area was part of the commune of Saint-Mandé. A decree officially classified it as part of the Parisian road system.
The construction of the Petite Ceinture railway line impacted the Rue des Marguerites. The railway runs alongside the street. This led to its rearrangement in the second half of the 19th century. Part of the street was cut off. The creation of the Armand-Trousseau hospital led to this amputation. The hospital grounds engulfed the section that connected it to the current Rue du Sahel. The hospital construction blocked access to that area. In 1948, the street’s extreme end was incorporated into the Rue de Rambervillers.
The Armand-Trousseau hospital marks the street’s beginning. At numbers 17-23 stands a building showcasing the Modern Movement style. Architects Pierre Chaussade and Robert Locre designed it in 1965. The building at number 27 also holds significance. It stands on the corner of the street and Avenue de Saint-Mandé. This building plays a role in Jacques Tardi’s comic book adaptation. The comic adapts Léo Malet’s Nestor Burma adventure, Casse-pipe à la Nation.
An alternative origin of the street’s name exists. It may come from an old laundry. The laundry was run by a “Dame Marguerite”. She employed many female workers. These workers were nicknamed “les Marguettes”. Thus, Rue des Marguerites carries layers of history. It reflects nature, industry, and artistic inspiration. As you walk along, imagine the daisies that might have once grown here. Picture the laundry workers. Envision the characters from the pages of a comic book. The Rue des Marguerites offers a glimpse into Paris’s evolving story.