You might miss it if you weren’t looking for it. Tucked away between imposing apartment buildings, Square Colbert is a small, hidden green haven in the 11th arrondissement of Paris. It’s a calming contrast to the energy of the surrounding streets. In this tranquil space, nature wins the battle against urban sprawl. It has a history as rich as the city itself, as it was created in 1975 on the land once occupied by a historic pension called Belhomme. The pension was founded in 1770 by someone called Jacques Belhomme who was, believe it or not, a mirror maker by trade. During the French Revolution, the pension was used to house prisoners of wealth who were lucky enough to avoid the guillotine. Today, the square is home to a charming neoclassical pavilion, the only remaining part of the original pension. This pavilion now serves as a reminder of the city’s changing fortunes and the past lives hidden within its walls. Here, amidst the trees, you can almost hear the ghostly whispers of history echoing through the leaves.
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.