Le mystère du 4 1 rue de Rennes, à Paris !                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Saviez-vous que la rue de Rennes est le théâtre d’une curiosité ? En effet, cette rue bien connue du VIème arrondissement est l’une des rares à ne pas commencer au numéro 1 ! La première adresse de la rue est le 41. On doit ce mystère à la manière dont elle a été construite.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Petit retour en arrière. Lors de sa création en 1853, la rue de Rennes était alors un des grands projets du baron Haussmann. Le préfet de la Seine avait alors pour but de faire relier la gare Montparnasse (anciennement gare de Rennes) à la Seine. Pour accomplir ces travaux titanesques, il est prévu de diviser le projet en trois tronçons. Toutefois, après les travaux des deux premiers (la partie reliant la gare à la rue Vaugirard et celle allant de cette dernière à la place Saint-Germain), l’extension prévue pour aller de l’église à la Seine, au Nord du boulevard Saint-Germain, est abandonnée.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Les moyens sont trop justes et l’architecte a vu trop grand. Pour ce faire, il aurait fallu détruire une partie de l’Institut de France et construire un nouveau pont en forme de X qui enjambait le fleuve. Ainsi, la numérotation de la rue n’a pas pu être complétée.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Aujourd’hui, la rue de Rennes n’est pas le boulevard qu’Haussmann imaginait. Elle est orientée Nord-Sud, et relie Montparnasse au quartier de Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Elle est longue de 1,1km et large de 20m.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             * Il y a des questions sur Paris dont on aimerait bien avoir la réponse. Que ce soit des interrogations importantes sur la capitale, son histoire ou ses bonnes adresses ou des mini-informations à picorer dont on peut se servir pour briller en société.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Avec ses « Le saviez-vous », Paris ZigZag essaie de lever le mystère sur tout ce que l’on a toujours voulu savoir sans jamais oser le demander…

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Non, les espaces verts à Paris ne sont pas tous des lieux où le moindre mètre carré se retrouve pris d’assaut par les Parisiens dès qu’un rayon de soleil pointe son nez. La preuve avec ces quatre jolis squares, peu fréquentés ...   parce que très bien cachés !

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Square Denys-Bühler (VIIème arrondissement) :

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       On remarque facilement ce petit espace de verdure parce qu’il détonne dans la rue de Grenelle, presque exclusivement composée de béton et d’immeubles.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Et pourtant seuls quelques braves osent s’y aventurer ! Emménagé au pied de la charmante Église Saint-Jean et d’une maison à colombages, le square Denys-Bühler appartient à la paroisse luthérienne Saint-Jean mais, peu de gens le savent, est ouvert au public tous les jours.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Pour profiter de ce coin de tranquillité à quelques pas de l’Hôtel des Invalides, il suffit de franchir la grille de la paroisse et de longer l’église.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Un jardin composé de quelques bancs et massifs de bruyères vous attend dans le calme et le silence.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

© François Grunberg / Mairie de Paris

Square Denys-Bühler - 147 rue de Grenelle, 75007
Métro : La Tour-Maubourg (ligne 8)
Ouvert tous les jours de 8h00 à 18h00 et jusqu’à 20h30 entre avril et août

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Square Colbert (XIème arrondissement) :

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        On ne s’imagine pas une seconde qu’un beau et grand jardin public se cache derrière cette inhospitalière grille bleue. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Et pourtant, derrière la barre d’immeubles du 159 rue de Charonne, le square Colbert abrite des allées arborées, une aire de jeu pour enfants, des pelouses pour pique-niquer, un jardin partagé et un élégant pavillon néoclassique, ultime vestige de l’ancienne pension Belhomme.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Tout ça pour seulement quelques privilégiés : les riverains et les quelques promeneurs qui connaissent ce lieu bien gardé. Vous en faites désormais partie !                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Le pavillon de l’ancienne pension Belhomme au fond du jardin

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Square Colbert - 159 rue de Charonne, 75011
Métro : Charonne (ligne 9)
Ouvert tous les jours de 9h30 à 17h en hiver et de 9h30 à 20h30 en été.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Square Roger-Stéphane (VIIème arrondissement) :

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Anciennement nommé Square Récamier, du nom de la rue en cul-de-sac au bout de laquelle il se trouve, le square Roger-Stéphane est une pépite de verdure et de tranquillité. Lilas japonais, rhododendrons, chèvrefeuilles et bruyères poussent à leur aise autour d’un bassin en cascade et d’une architecture vallonnée. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Un lieu où la nature reprend définitivement ses droits… On en oublierait presque que nous sommes dans l’un des quartiers les plus fréquentés de la capitale !                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Square Roger-Stéphane – 7 rue Récamier, 75007
Métro : Sèvres-Babylone (lignes 10 et 12)
Ouvert tous les jours

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Square Saint-Gilles Grand Veneur – Pauline Roland (IIIème arrondissement) :

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Ses bancs, ses jolies roses toutes plus colorées les unes que les autres, ses pelouses centrales et ses colonnes grimpantes font de ce joli coin de verdure un jardin à la française aussi calme qu’accueillant. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Pour atteindre ce lieu bien gardé du Marais, il existe deux accès : l’un par la rue du Grand-Veneur, l’autre par la rue de Hesse.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Dans tous les cas, il ne faut pas hésiter à passer le porche des immeubles qui bordent le square et le cachent aux visiteurs les moins attentifs.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Square Saint-Gilles Grand Veneur Pauline Roland - 9 rue du Grand Veneur, 75003
Métro : Chemin Vert (ligne 8)
Ouvert tous les jours de 9h à 21h

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              L’histoire de la mairie de Paris est assez mouvementée, ponctuée par la Révolution, la Commune ou encore les différents régimes.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Le poste de maire de Paris a été créé en 1789, le lendemain de la prise de la Bastille.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Jusqu’alors, la capitale française était « dirigée » par un prévôt des marchands. Jacques de Flesselles, celui qui occupe cette place au moment de la Révolution, est tué d’un coup de pistolet le 14 juillet même.

                                                                                                                                                                                                         Sa tête est plantée sur une pique et baladée sur le parvis de l’Hôtel de Ville.

                                                                                                                                                                                              Dès le lendemain, le premier « vrai » maire de Paris est élu. Il s’agit de Jean Sylvain Bailly, né en 1736.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Et le moins que l’on puisse dire, c’est que ce révolutionnaire a déjà un CV bien chargé.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Astronome et mathématicien reconnu, il est académicien depuis 1783.

                                                                                                                                                                                                  Mais, ce sont surtout ses qualités politiques qui en font l’homme de la situation.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            En effet, il a d’ores et déjà été président du Tiers-État, puis de l’Assemblée Nationale …

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Si sa popularité aura été au beau fixe pendant une bonne partie de son mandat, Desmoulin et Maratcritiqueront tout de même son côté conservateur, c’est dans le sang et le déshonneur que son mandat se terminera.

                                                                                                                                                                                         Le 17 juillet 1791, ils ordonnent à ses troupes de tirer sur les manifestants du Champs-de-Mars.

                                                                                                                                                                                                   a A peine trois mois plus tard, fortement contesté, il démissionnera.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Sa fin de vie ne sera pas plus heureuse. En effet, deux ans plus tard, il est arrêté pour témoigner au procès de Marie-Antoinette.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Son refus de porter le « coup de grâce » à la reine, lui a valu de mourir également guillotiné.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Pour l’anecdote, Paris n’a pas eu de maire entre 1871 et 1977. La capitale était alors gérée par l’État.

                                                                                                                                                                                 Il y a des questions sur Paris dont on aimerait bien avoir la réponse.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Que ce soit des interrogations importantes sur la capitale, son histoire ou ses bonnes adresses ou des mini-informations à picorer dont on peut se servir pour briller en société. 

Jeanne Louise BEAUDON dite Jane AVRIL -  dite aussi la Mélinite -

 danseuse, chanteuse et actrice de théâtre ...

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Elle est née à Belleville, de Luigi de Font, Italien issu de la noblesse, et de Léontine Clarisse Beaudon (née en 1844), demi-mondaine parisienne (déclarée "modiste non mariée" sur l'acte de naissance de sa fille).

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Battue par sa mère, fugueuse, elle se retrouve à 16 ans enfermée dans un asile de fous, dans le service du professeur Charcot à la Salpêtrière.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Déclarée guérie, elle devint écuyère à l'Hippodrome, avenue de l'Alma, puis caissière à l’Exposition universelle de 1889, avant de danser le quadrille au Moulin-Rouge avec la Goulue, sous le nom de « la Mélinite ».

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Cette danse la rendit si célèbre que, par la suite, elle ne se produisit plus que dans les meilleurs cabarets parisiens. L'emblème de sa chorégraphie était une figure particulière consistant à lever la jambe gauche en la balançant frénétiquement d'un côté et de l'autre.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Distinguée, raffinée, elle a évolué dans les cercles littéraires et parmi les habitués du Chat-Noir.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   A partir de 1890, elle fut amie avec Toulouse-Lautrec qui l'a représentée maintes fois ; il a écrit à son propos : « Elle est fine comme une fleur de narcisse dont elle a la pâleur ».

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Quant à Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec voilà ce qu'écrit Le Figaro lors de la disparition du peintre en septembre 1901. Malgré sa courte vie, décédé à 36 ans, il a laissé une œuvre considérable  : 737 peintures, 275 aquarelles, 369 lithographies, et 5000 dessins*.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

On trouve certaines de ses illustrations dans Le Figaro illustré où il collabore, à partir de 1892, de façon épisodique. Elles accompagnent, notamment, les articles de Gustave Geffroy titrés Le plaisir à Paris en juillet 1893 et octobre 1894.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Les Poulets de Paris ...

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Dans de nombreux pays les policiers ont des surnoms animaliers : cochons aux États-Unis, sauterelles en Angleterre, taureau en Allemagne ou encore les fameux poulets français.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Mais savez-vous pourquoi nos forces de l’ordre sont assimilées à ces volatiles ?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Après Après l’épisode sanglant de la Commune, en 1871, de nombreux bâtiments publics sont détruits dont la Préfecture de Police de Paris, fondée sous Napoléon Ier.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Ancienne préfecture de Police de Paris rue de Jerusalem, incendiée pendant la Commune.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Jules Ferry, alors maire de la capitale met à disposition de nouveaux locaux pour accueillir cette administration : la caserne de l’île de la Cité.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    C’est lors des grands travaux du baron Haussmann que cette caserne est édifiée … sur un ancien marché aux volailles.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Les parisiens ne tardent pas à assimiler les nouveaux occupants de lieux aux anciens. Les policiers parisiens deviennent des poulets et rapidement cette expression gagne l’ensemble du pays !                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

Préfecture de Police de Paris depuis Notre-Dame.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Ce surnom est lié à l’une des citations les plus connues de "tante Yvonne", épouse du général de Gaulle.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Suite à l’attentat du Petit Clamart, au cours duquel le couple présidentiel manque de peu de perdre la vie, la première dame exprime sa première inquiétude : « J’espère que les poulets n’ont rien eu ! ».

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Les forces de l’ordre chargées de la protection présidentielle sont touchées en croyant qu’Yvonne de Gaulle se préoccupe de leur sort …
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              La réalité est toute autre, elle s’enquiert en fait des volailles en gelée qu’elle vient d’acheter chez Fauchon et qui sont dans le coffre du véhicule criblé de balles !

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Même sous le coup de l’émotion, la première Dame ne se serait jamais laissée aller à utiliser une expression argotique !