Saint-Ouen
Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine is located in the department of Seine-Saint-Denis, on the right bank of the river. Established on a hill overlooking the Seine during the Middle Ages, for a long time, Saint-Ouen was a town that mostly revolved around its original district of Vieux Saint-Ouen. However, the town’s appearance evolved considerably during the 19th century. A massive industrialization brought profound changes to the population and town planning. After the war in 1870, rag-and-bone men set up camps and huts, which would progressively turn into a flea market. From around 1965-1975, industry went through a period of decline and crisis. It was a time of deindustrialization and industrial wastelands. There are many songs dedicated to Saint-Ouen and its flea market: “À Saint-Ouen” by Aristide Bruant, “Entre Saint-Ouen et Clignancourt” sung by Edith Piaf, “La chope des Puces” by Sanseverino.
Also worth discovering: the poem “Saint Ouen’s blues” by Raymond Queneau (L’instant fatal, Paris, Gallimard, 1948)
Les amoureux du pont, photographie © François Guillotte
