HISTORY
PERNETY
Pernety was opened back in 1937 and was originally included on Line 14. It officially became part of Line 13 in 1976. Pernety refers to one of Napoleon's great generals who owned property off of the stop.
The exterior appearance of this stop was unique. Buildings painted with murals and euro-shops selling bizarre items such as dinosaur snow globes. As we continued our visit, we stumbled upon a street that was decorated with lovely trees and bright flowers. It reminded me of my neighborhood back in Miami. The shiny green leaves and flamboyant roses transported me back to a memory that feels so long ago. Just a few blocks from this hidden treasure lies the Notre Dame du-Travail Church, built in 1902. From the outside, this church looks like any other church you’ll find throughout Paris. But once you step inside, it is completely unusual. The ceilings and beams supporting the structure are made out of steel. It brings together both a modern and historic approach.
PORT DE VANVES
In the late nineteenth century, Porte de Vanves was an area of scrap dealers and outcasts. They would go around town, finding and selling different materials that would include metal and rags. Around this same period, the first amusement park in the area was created. Although it was fairly successful, it was unfortunately destroyed about twenty years after it opened. In 1888, Vanves was divided into two cities. In memory of the amusement park, the locals decided to name a monument after it. Porte de Vanves today is booming with flea markets and pop-up shops. It stays true to its past and continues to be a welcoming community for all who visit.
CHATILLON- MONTROUGE
Chatillon- Montrouge is the last stop on Metro Line 13. It first opened in 1976 and more recently in 2008, it added automatic screen doors to protect riders from falling on the tracks. This station is the first to have such technology installed and has prevented many accidents from occurring over the years.
Walking out of the metro station, we were faced with ten to twelve cigarette vendors. The majority of them were selling the same exact products. As we walked away from that area, we found ourselves surrounded by large, commercial buildings. Many professionals outside taking some breaks. Little to no tourists in site. The area wasn’t as active in comparison to other stops we had done. Most people in the streets were dressed for work.
These stops showed how much progress a city can have but at the same time how much they can reflect on their past. In Port de Vanves’ case, back in the nineteenth century, the area was predominately catered to flea market goers. And today, nearly 200 years later, it still holds a massive flea market for the community. Cities grow with time and they adapt to the people that reside there. But when referencing the cities internal structure, it typically stays the same.