We have driven and walked in my eternal Paris, and would like to have an imprint in my blog on the wonderful family times we had there, There is so much to see , doing my best, and glad found me this picture in my cd rom vault ,which now transposing in my blog for you and me, This was my former worked city, so glad to post more memorable spots on it, I thank you for your readership over the years and to bear with my rants! After all ,Paris is to rant, shout and yelled about, me think. Therefore, here is my take on the Avenue Daumesnil of Paris !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.
The Avenue Daumesnil is located in the 12éme arrondissement of Paris. It begins at Rue de Lyon, near Place de la Bastille, and continues east for 3.4 km to the town of Saint-Mandé and the Bois de Vincennes. It then continues for over 3.3 km north of the Bois de Vincennes, forming the southern boundary of Saint-Mandé, extending part of the way to the Château de Vincennes. At 6,270 meters long in total, it is the longest thoroughfare in Paris if the section within Saint-Mandé is included. Avenue Daumesnil intersects several other streets to numerous to mention here. The avenue is named in honor of Baron Pierre Daumesnil, a general of the Empire who defended the Château de Vincennes in 1814 and 1815, as it was the road leading to the château. Three metro stations are accessible from the Avenue: Daumesnil, on lines 6 and 8, Michel Bizot and Porte Dorée, served by line 8, the latter also being served by tram line T3a. The Bastille station, served by lines 1, 5, and 8, the Montgallet station by line 8, and the Château de Vincennes station by line 1 are all within easy reach.
As part of the transformations of Paris under the Second Empire, the avenue known as “de Vincennes” was laid out on April 16, 1859 between the Place de la Bastille and the old Reuilly gate (current Place Félix-Éboué). From Rue de Lyon to Rue de Charenton, it runs alongside the Paris-Bastille to Marles-en-Brie railway line (Viaduc des Arts), opened in 1859. The avenue then veers away from the railway to reach the former Reuilly gate. The avenue continues to the Château esplanade via a curved path laid out in 1857 during the redevelopment of the Bois de Vincennes. The avenue took its current name in 1864. In 1929, the Bois de Vincennes was officially annexed to the city of Paris.
Notable buildings here are at No 160: an Art Deco building from 1932 . At No 166: the site, from 1840 to 1934, of the Limonaire brothers’ mechanical musical instrument factory. At No 186 is the main entrance to the Church of the Holy Spirit, built between 1928 and 1929 in a Neo-Byzantine style. Between numbers 265 and 267, and 266 and 268 side, the bridge of the former Petite Ceinture railway line crosses the avenue. At No 218, the entrance to the Villa Daumesnil, a group of houses designed and financed by Napoleon III and given to a workers’ cooperative. At No 293, after the Porte Dorée, is the former Museum of African and Oceanic Arts. Opposite stands the monument to the Marchand mission, named after the head of the Congo-Nile mission.
However, the reason of this post is the building on Nos 187-189 ,the former Diderot telephone exchange.(see pic) Just steps from the Daumesnil metro station lies this fascinating testament to Parisian architectural innovation of the 1920s. Designed in 1927 by Paul Guadet, the official architect of the Post and Telecommunications service, this jewel of rationalist architecture is none other than a former telephone exchange! It embodies a little-known chapter in the history of the Post and Telecommunications service. Paul Guadet, a pioneer of modern architecture, distinguished himself here through his bold use of reinforced concrete: a highly innovative material at the time. The exposed reinforced concrete framework lends the building a restrained yet imposing monumentality, enhanced by light-colored brick infill from Dizy, in the Marne 51 region, which illuminates the façade with a warm hue. The building also impresses with its wide spans, majestic glass roofs, and striking entrance, which reinforce its industrial and functional character. The building is embellished on the façade with colorful glazed stoneware tiles ,yellow, red, and green ,adding a subtle touch of ornamentation that immediately catches the eye. This unique building invites curious visitors and architecture enthusiasts to discover a utilitarian monument transformed into a modernist work of art. And for those truly passionate about architecture(me!), Paul Guadet’s legacy extends to other Parisian telephone exchanges, such as those in Auteuil, Monceau-Carnot, and Ménilmontant, as well as other famous Parisian buildings.
It begins near the Opéra Bastille, runs along the Promenade Plantée and the Viaduc des Arts, the Jardin de Reuilly opposite the 12éme arrondissement City/town hall, the repurposed Reuilly train station, and the Place Félix Eboué with its Fountain of Lions. At the Porte Dorée are the Fontaine de la Porte Dorée and the National Museum of the History of Immigration. At the edge of the Bois de Vincennes, Avenue Daumesnil runs alongside the Paris Zoological Park, commonly known as the “Vincennes Zoo.”
From the Opéra Bastille (more precisely, Rue de Lyon) to Rue Montgallet, Avenue Daumesnil is bordered by the Viaduc des Arts. The top of the viaduct was used to create a promenade, the Promenade Plantée. This promenade crosses Avenue Ledru-Rollin via a former railway bridge. Facing the viaduct, the avenue is initially lined with Haussmannian-style buildings; beyond this point, the architecture becomes more varied between nos 130-132 and the Square Eugène-Thomas. From there, it climbs towards the Place Félix-Éboué, leaving the former Reuilly train station on its left. After the square, the avenue descends towards the Porte Dorée.
The Paris tourist office on the 12éme arrondissement de Paris : https://parisjetaime.com/eng/article/explore-paris-s-12th-arrondissement-a824
The Paris tourist office on walks and to do list on the 12éme arrondissement de Paris : https://parisjetaime.com/eng/article/exploring-traditional-skills-in-the-12th%20arrondissement-a774
There you go folks, a dandy city to explore and enjoy with the family, Memorable moments in my eternal Paris, driving and walking all over in my road warrior trails brings out sublime awesome spots with nice memorable family visits of yesteryear always remember and always looking forward to be back, eventually. Again hope you enjoy the post on the Avenue Daumesnil of Paris !!! as I.
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 