“A train ticket to Arles, one-way please.” Those were the words Vincent van Gogh uttered in 1888, leaving the vibrant chaos of Paris behind. He sought solace and inspiration in the south of France. But for two crucial years, from 1886 to 1888, Rue Van Gogh, nestled near the bustling Gare de Lyon, found itself graced by the presence of this revolutionary artist. Back then, it wasn’t Rue Van Gogh, of course. It was just a humble lane, known as “Voie AJ/12,” replacing the old “Passage Genty.” This passage had a past steeped in timber, serving a bustling lumber yard owned by a monsieur Genty. The area was once a hive of activity, with workshops and timber stacks lining the banks of the Seine. Imagine the air filled with the scent of fresh-cut wood, the rhythmic clang of hammers, a world away from the grand boulevards. Here, on Rue Van Gogh, you can almost hear the echoes of that industrious past, before it transformed into a modern artery, leading to the iconic Pont Charles-de-Gaulle. The street, renamed in honor of the great artist in the late 1970s, stands as a quiet testament to the ever-changing face of Paris, where layers of history intertwine.
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.