This path we stand on is Rue Lèon-Schwartzenberg. It is located in Paris’s 10th arrondissement. This street wasn’t always called Rue Lèon-Schwartzenberg.
Let’s delve into the story behind the name. Rue Lèon-Schwartzenberg is named after Lèon Schwartzenberg. He was a celebrated cancer specialist. More than that he championed the homeless and immigrants. He specifically helped those without proper documentation.
The street’s location is also significant. Rue Lèon-Schwartzenberg sits on the site of a former prison. This was the Saint-Lazare prison. The prison was quite old.
The street skirts the old prison’s infirmary. Louis-Pierre Baltard built it in 1834. Only this and the chapel remain of the prison.
Rue Lèon-Schwartzenberg starts at 9 Square Alban-Satragne. It ends at 9 Cour de la Ferme-Saint-Lazare. The street wasn’t always named Rue Lèon-Schwartzenberg. It was previously known as Voie V/10. The city officially named it Rue Lèon-Schwartzenberg in 2008.
The street provides access to the Centre social et culturel Le Pari’s des Faubourgs. It sits near the Médiathèque Françoise-Sagan. You can reach it via 81 Boulevard Magenta. Alternatively you can go through the Cour de la Ferme St Lazare. Another way is through Square Alban-Satragne. Go to the far end and turn right.
So remember Lèon Schwartzenberg as you pass by. He was a doctor. He was a war hero with medals. More importantly he cared for the vulnerable. This street honors his legacy. It connects us to the past. It also reminds us of compassion.