La Cité Florale

You are approaching a place defined by a geographical accident that preserved its unique character. La Cité Florale was constructed between 1925 and 1930 on what was once a low-lying meadow. This land was the site of the last pond fed by the Bièvre River before the stream was covered. Because the ground was prone to frequent flooding, it was considered too unstable for the heavy, multi-story stone buildings that define much of the rest of Paris. This restriction forced developers to build small, lightweight houses instead, which resulted in the low-slung, intimate village atmosphere you see today.