“Bobillot? Who was Bobillot?” a visitor asks. The Rue du Sergent Bobillot in Paris honors Jules Bobillot. It lies in the 13th arrondissement within the Maison-Blanche quarter.
This street stretches 1,070 meters. It connects Place d’Italie to Place de Rungis. Rue du Sergent Bobillot got its name from Jules Bobillot. He was born in Paris in 1860. He died in Hanoi on March 18 1885.
Bobillot was a sergeant in the Franco-Chinese War. He showed great bravery at the siege of Tuyen Quang. He was severely wounded there. He died a month later in a Hanoi hospital. He quickly became a colonial hero. He symbolized patriotism promoted by the Third Republic. His ashes were returned to Saint-Roch cemetery in Grenoble in 1966.
You’ll find a bust of Sergeant Jules Bobillot at Place Paul-Verlaine. The Rue du Sergent Bobillot crosses this square. An earlier bronze statue of the sergeant stood on Boulevard Voltaire. It was removed and melted down during the Occupation.
Many French cities also have streets named after him. These include Béziers Cannes Grenoble Montreuil and Toulouse. The Rue du Sergent Bobillot came into existence when the Bièvre valley was filled in. This happened in the late 19th century. The street was built between Place de Rungis and the north of Rue de Tolbiac.
Like other streets in the area it primarily served the new Glacière-Gentilly freight station. This station was on the Petite Ceinture line. Construction occurred in two phases. The first phase was in 1893. It ran from Place de Rungis to Rue de la Butte-aux-Cailles. The second phase was in 1896. It connected Rue de la Butte-aux-Cailles to Place d’Italie.
Notable spots along the Rue du Sergent Bobillot include Place Paul-Verlaine. Here you will find the Butte-aux-Cailles swimming pool and an artesian well. The well was restored in 2001. Monuments to Sergeant Bobillot and the first human balloon flight are also here. Do not forget Square Henri-Rousselle.
Another landmark is Sainte-Anne de la Butte-aux-Cailles church. It stands at the junction with Rue de Tolbiac. You can also find Square Paul-Grimault near Place de Rungis. An interesting historical note is the former Impasse Désirée. Once located here it housed Paris’s second horse butchery. By 1914 it became the city’s largest.
Look closely at number 36. One street sign incorrectly identifies Jules Bobillot. It calls him a sergeant in the marine infantry. He was actually a sergeant in the engineering corps. Other signs on the street correctly state this fact.
At number 49 stands the private school Groupe Scolaire Saint-Vincent-de-Paul. Its origins trace back to 1858. The Sisters of Saint-Vincent-de-Paul founded a girls’ school. Finally at number 103 observe the old sign holder on the building’s facade. The caretaker would place signs in the grille. These signs announced apartment availability. This is possibly the last of its kind in Paris. The Rue du Sergent Bobillot offers a mix of history. It blends colonial remembrance with everyday Parisian life.