Fifty meters long that’s Rue Maurice-Bourdet. A small street in the 16th arrondissement of Paris. It’s tucked between the Auteuil and Muette neighborhoods. Imagine a quiet Parisian street. It’s not very busy. Rue Maurice-Bourdet starts near the Pont de Grenelle. It ends at the Avenue du Président-Kennedy. The street is named after Maurice Bourdet. He was a journalist and a resistance fighter during World War II. He died in deportation. The street’s proximity to the Maison de la Radio influenced the name choice. The street wasn’t always called Rue Maurice-Bourdet. Initially it was the Chaussée du Pont-de-Grenelle. It was created around the time the Pont de Grenelle was built. Rue Maurice-Bourdet has a unique feature. Only one side of the street has buildings. One is a Haussmannian building. The other is a modern one. They are set back from the Seine River. The other side is mostly a parking lot. Interestingly you’ll see a sign that says 1 Rue de Grenelle on a building. That’s the name the developers used. Officially though it’s 1-3 Rue Maurice-Bourdet. The modern building has appeared in the French film series Le Coeur des Hommes. It’s the home of one of the main characters. Rue Maurice-Bourdet a small street with a big history. A small quiet street with a big history behind it. A testament to a journalist and resistance fighter. A small piece of Paris history tucked away.
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.