Can a street retain a whisper of its rural past? This is the Sentier Montempoivre, a place with a story to tell. The Sentier Montempoivre is a vestige of the old village of Saint-Mandé. The name itself, “Montempoivre,” hints at a time when this was not a street but a path through open land. The name refers to an old place name in the village of Saint-Mandé. This village was located south of the Sentier de la Lieutenance and was eventually absorbed into the fabric of Paris. The Sentier Montempoivre is a survivor, a thread connecting the modern city with its rural history. In 1932, a section of this historic path, between Rue de Toul and Avenue du Général Michel Bizot, was renamed Rue Messidor. But this little stretch, the Sentier Montempoivre, persists. It’s a reminder that even as Paris grows and changes, echoes of its past can still be found in the most unexpected places.
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.