Inside the small village of Boileau, a secret and (very) private neighborhood in Paris

The little village of Boileau, or the countryside in Paris

Private neighborhood in the 16th arrondissement of Paris

On the borders of western Paris, we know Villa Montmorency well, the confidential and (very) exclusive enclave of the Village d’Auteuil popular with great riches and celebrities – Céline Dion, Johnny Hallyday and Carole Bouquet have lived there. Little known, the small village of Boileau is located a few streets further, equally confidential and a true guarantee of tranquility in the heart of the capital. The neighborhood embodies a fantasy country life in Paris near Boulevard Exelmans.

The little village of Boileau built instead of a country house

Access is at number 38 rue Boileau, in front of which a metal gate in dark green shades announces that it is private property. It corresponds to an elegant half-timbered facade reminiscent of Norman residences, a paved avenue extending beyond. For non-residents, this is where the walk ends, unless you’re lucky… Created in 1938 at the initiative of the writer Nicolas Boileau, who is said to have owned his country house on this large plot of land, the Hameau Boileau. then passed into the hands of the printer and lithographer Joseph-Rose Lemercier. The structure of the hamlet is attributed to the architect Théodore Charpentier, before it was classified as a site by decree of July 3, 1970. Divided into five lanes and 60 residential numbers, the hamlet of Boileau has three cul-de-sacs named in honor of great writers . like Racine, Corneille and Voltaire and deux avenues, Despréaux and Molière – according to legend he often came to take refuge here to write.