La colonne

You are approaching a site known simply as La Colonne. Long before the surrounding streets were paved, this specific spot served as a traditional gathering place for hunters when the area was nothing more than a dense forest filled with game. The column itself was erected around 1865 to mark the division of the new village of La Garenne into smaller plots. For many years, the monument functioned as a practical road sign for horse-drawn carriages and postal services passing through what was then the only major intersection in the community. At one point, the structure was even fitted with lanterns, allowing it to provide necessary public lighting for travelers at night. While the original inscriptions on its stone base have long since faded away, the monument remains a lingering reminder of the era when this bustling neighborhood was just beginning to take shape.