29.5.09

Boulevard Péreire


I have already at a few occasions (I refer e.g. to my post about Gare du Nord) talked about the circular railroad, “La Petite Ceinture” (The Small Belt), created during the latter half of the 19th century, just inside the then relatively new Thiers Wall (see previous post) which surrounded the city still for a few decades. This was before the opening of the metro and there was a need to connect especially the more important railway stations.

With the time, now and then, I may bring you on a complete tour of the “La Petite Ceinture”, progressing slowly; although it’s basically not more in operation since the 30’s, the traces are there, parts of the rail tracks are still used for the rapid metro lines (RER) and some stations are still in use, sometimes as shops, sometimes as restaurants .... sometimes as metro stations.

Today I would like to take you along for a little part of the “Ceinture”, the Boulevard Péreire. It has got its name from the brothers Péreire, of Portuguese origin (Pereira), financiers involved in banking, steamship lines, insurance, newspapers... railways and the local transport systems. They owned the railway line which used to pass here.

You can follow the boulevard from Porte Maillot, its large hotels, congress building, restaurants....
In the beginning, the space between the buildings on both sides of the boulevard is today covered by a park with a still working quick metro line (RER) below. (See top picture. Some of these photos were taken last year – under the sun, absent during my walk this week.)

On our way, we will cross Place du Maréchal Juin and pass by the station Courcelles-Levallois (covered by tennis courts). As from here the metro takes another direction and the old “Petite Ceinture” rail tracks, not used any more, become visible (see the pictures with the plan above) although largely hidden by growing trees. We will cross Place Wagram and end up close to the tracks that lead to Gare Saint Lazare.
On both sides of the boulevard most of the buildings are from around the shift of the 19th and 20th centuries. Most of them can be described as of high standard.
Many of the buildings have artist studios on the top; I guess that few artists today can afford to live here.

I wish you all a nice weekend!

49 comments:

Harriet said...

Dear Peter, I am getting out my map to circle this area. Your photos make me want to be there.

And I will be there in July! Taking a course to hopefully improve my French.

Recently, I have had problems opening your site on my NEW and FAST pc desktop computer. I'm having to resort to using my husband's mac! Have you made any recent changes on your site that might account for this problem; otherwise, I need to talk to my computer guy. (Virginia has my other email address.)

PeterParis said...

Harriet:
I have recently also had problems to open certain blogs (including mine) via my PC, but no problem when using my little laptop or if using Firefox. Don't understand.

I trust we will meet in July!

Cezar and Léia said...

Hello dear Peter!
Another perfect post!Well done!
It reminds me "Princess Gracie Garden"in Monaco! I saw your pictures from MonteCarlo, have you visited the royal palace in Monaco as well?
Have a nice weekend!
Cezar

Adam said...

I think you must nearly have a complete archive of this old line now. It's very interesting to see how it's been absorbed a more middle/upper class environment. Who uses the RER C line there today?

Harriet said...

After days of not being able to open your site, I can now open it on my pc desk top. I hope the glitch doesn't re-appear.

Yes, it would be very nice to meet you. Virginia speaks fondly of you.

Crossing my fingers that all is now well with your site!

James said...

I have been having problems opening certain blogs lately. I'm glad I didn't give up on this wonderful post. Peter as you mentioned on my blog I would love to contact you next time I'm in Paris, but i'm affraid it may be a long while until i'm able to go again.
Have a great weekend!

alice said...

Je crois que je reconnais une petite silhouette sur des roulettes et une autre en rouge... En tout cas, pour la rose Pierre de Ronsard, je suis sûre! Les façades sont très belles. Moi aussi, je te souhaite un bon weekend ;-)

lyliane six said...

Il suffisait de passer le pont (de Suresnes) pour me retrouver Porte Maillot.Te voilà de retour, j'espère que tout va bien, ici ce n'est pas la joie, maman est assez malade et très fatiguée et le temps n'arrange rien, mais pour le weekend ça ira mieux, je ne te propose plus de venir en Normandie, car tu viens quand tu veux, mais tu a beaucoup de bloggeurs à recevoir.

hpy said...

Paloma en vedette sur une photo, et beaucoup de belles portes et de la ferronnerie à voir dans le quartier. Salut chef guide suprême de Paris!

Olivier said...

j'aime bcp la première photo qui une belle invitation a flâner dans Paris.

Rakesh Vanamali said...

Great pictures Peter! I absolutely loved # 1 which looks so refreshing and colourful!

Thanks very much and do have a wonderful weekend!

Virginia said...

RER? We're not sure about those! HA We're sticking to the MEtro for now. Sorry, no photos yet Peter. I''m getting up my nerve.

I haven't had trouble opening blogs but leaving comments is getting maddening. Asks for ID and then doesn't take mine.

Bon weekend Peter. It looks like a lovely one!
V

Cheryl said...

Lovely photos, especially the ones of those artists studios!

White Rabbit said...

I wish I could live in one of those buildings with artist studios

Oh to dream ...

margarida said...

" (...) the Boulevard Péreire. It has got its name from the brothers Péreire, of Portuguese origin (Pereira), financiers involved in banking, steamship lines, insurance, newspapers... railways and the local transport systems. They owned the railway line which used to pass here."

I knew I had faous ancesters but 'that' famous!?
;)))
Nice to know this, thanks Peter!!!

Delphinium said...

ahahahahahah, un pub pour le métro de lausanne tout à droite. :-))))

Delphinium said...

moi aussi j'ai une petite ceinture, c'est parce que je ne mange pas beaucoup.

Claudia said...

Superbly researched and presented, as usual. Really enjoyed reading it.

Cergie said...

Porte Maillot et la section pas loin de chez toi donc, du coté de chez moi aussi (mais plus loin)
Le règne de la rose (La "Pierre de Ronsard" si je ne me trompe, grimpante à l'odeur de pomme : les deux photos en bas fu montage avec les arceaux), de la fraîcheur du printemps ; les jours se suivent et ne se ressemblent pas : tu as bien fait de ne pas déménager à Menton, tu vois...
Et puis je note que tu remplis ton agenda pour les mois à venir ; je ne sais si la Côte d'Azur serait aussi centrale car tous les chemins mènent à Paris...

Delphinium said...

c'est la saison des roses, chez nous, ça arrive aussi.

hpy said...

Bon weekend!

Catherine said...

Tous ces parterres de roses....Cela laisse rêveur.

Une partie de la petite ceinture bien mise en valeur. Il reste encore des tronçon laissés à l'abandon......Question de quartier sans doute.

GMG said...

Hi Peter! It seems we have similar situations to deal with; anyhow, better still having them than not having it any longer...

Pereira! I wonder why they should make it Pereire.... ;) Near the Méridien (great jazz) and the Concorde-Lafayette ( superb bar on the top with a magnificent view... ;)), there is the Relais de Venise (aka L'Entrecôte Porte Maillot), great food! Also some Speciales n.º 1 at the Avenue des Ternes, corner Pereire, near the Méridien... ;)) Old memories!!
Great pictures, as always and some wonderful buildings!
have a great weekend!
Gil

Blind Fly Theater said...

Loved this lesson on “La Petite Ceinture” and all of the beautiful photos arranged in this magnificent way. Thanks again, Peter...
David

Anne in Oxfordshire said...

Another wonderful post and so interesting, I am looking forward to coming back to Paris, hopefully soon :-)

I have be compiling a list of "to see" places..cannot wait.

crocrodyl said...

Beautiful photos Peter! So many wonderful architectural details and colourful flowers! It seems to be that you had a great walk:)

Have a nice weekend!
Regards!
m_m

Anonymous said...

Lovely post, Peter. I really like the facades of these buildings.

Leena said...

Hello Peter and greetings from sunny, almost hot Joensuu, but Paris
is always a great place to visit with you!
As an answer to your comment on my site, I can tell, that now photos about terracotta soldiers were allowed. And you can guess, that I have them about hundred :)

Lovely weekend to you an yours!

Alain said...

Actuellement on n'oserait plus donner le nom d'un banquier à une voie parisienne, où alors peut-être à un impasse.

Jo's-D-Eyes said...

Hi dear Peter, I was wondering if you would be back or not, its probably that I am so busy ... but you are back and your blog is as always a joy to visit. I love all of it esspecially the flowerpart,

See my blog, with also flowers and festival of photograpy,

Good weekend wishes with lots of sun!!

JoAnn /Holland

Ruth said...

Leave it to Paris to preserve history so gorgeously.

I'm glad you're back, Peter.

Unknown said...

Amazingly beautiful building details! Fantastic collages, Peter!

Rob said...

Happy to see all the flowers in bloom. Even the doors and iron grates resemble flowers.

Bettina said...

So good you're back in Paris to give us all our "Paris kick" with your beautiful photos.
I hope you had a great time in Sweden ?

I really need your posts as a guidebook (it would be SO great). Before my last trip I tried to write down all your tips and itineraries, but it was just impossible.

PeterParis said...

Cezar:
Yes I have visited the Palace gardens, but some decades ago! :-)

Adam:
Probably mostly used by people travelling to and from the northern suburbs! :-)

Harriet:
I seem also to have less problems! Yes, we must meet! :-)

PeterParis said...

James:
Anyhow, you will do the trip one day again! :-)

Alice:
Désolé, ce n'est pas Paloma! :-)

Lyliane:
Nos mamans ont de problèmes! Merci encore pour ton invitation! :-)

PeterParis said...

hpy:
Elle lui ressemble peut-être, mais non, ce n'est pas Paloma! :-)

Olivier:
Il faut quitter Evry un peu plus souvent! :-)

Rakesh:
Thanks and the same to you! :-)

PeterParis said...

Virginia:
All noted! See you soon! Tomorrow? :-)

Cheryl:
Yes, I imagine you would like to have one like this! :-)

Chite Rabbit:
I guess you are not the only one! :-)

PeterParis said...

Margarida:
I made this special mentioning of Pereira thinking of you, of course! :-)

Delphinium:
Il faut manger bien, assez ... et boire raisonablement! :-)

hpy:
A toi aussi! :-)

PeterParis said...

Claudia:
Happy to see you around here again! :-)

Cergie:
Mon agenda devient un peu trop plein... j'ai du mal à faire le tour des blogs surtout! Désole; je fais de mon mieux! :-)

Delphinium (encore):
Je suis bien content pour toi! :-)

PeterParis said...

Catherine:
C'est sur que l'ouest est souvent plus gâté que l'est! :-)

GMG:
Of course you know all the best bars and restaurants! Soon back in Paris? :-)

SparkleMirror:
Thanks David! :-)

PeterParis said...

Anne:
Looking forward to meet you here! :-)

m_m:
Thanks! A bit late... I hope your weekend was nice, as was mine! :-)

Abe:
Thanks Abe! :-)

PeterParis said...

Leena:
Good news from Joensuu and Xi'an! :-)

Alain:
Génial comme commentaire! :-))

JoAnn:
Don't worry, I'm not forgetting you and your blog... although my agenda is a bit too full for the moment! :-)

PeterParis said...

Ruth:
... and I'm happy to be back and to see you around! :-)

JM:
You are too kind! :-)

Dusty Lens:
Flowers, flowers... Nice! :-)

PeterParis said...

Bettina:
Maybe next time we can find some more time to stroll together? :-)

Mona said...

WOW!

Beautiful buildings and beautiful roses!

What else can one wish to see!

parisbreakfasts said...

What a terrific tour Peter!!!
My jaw just hit the floor :O
Do you sometimes feel you were meant to do this your whole life?
You are soooo good at it!
BIG MERCI

PeterParis said...

Mona:
There is so much more to see! :-)

Parisbreakfasts:
I got a late start, so... :-)

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