“A breach or a passage?” That’s the intriguing question surrounding the name of the Passage de la Frette. Perhaps it hints at its historical role as a welcoming place. Or maybe it’s connected to the freights of boats. Whatever the real reason, the Passage de la Frette has always been a place of welcome and passage.
The Passage de la Frette in Aubervilliers whispers tales of a rich past. Though no prehistoric sites have been discovered here, the area’s occupation is undeniably ancient. Two axes dating back to the Neolithic period are proof of that. The remains of Gallo-Roman potteries found in La Frette-sur-Seine further confirm this. Our Gaulish ancestors the Parisii lived in this part of the Parisian basin. They left their name to the “Parisis” region, which ultimately gave its name to Paris itself.
Flashback to the eighth century. The Abbey of Saint-Denis received a territory surrounding Cormeilles as a donation. This is where the village of La Frette-sur-Seine began to take shape. By the 17th century, the village found itself within the royal hunting grounds of Saint Germain. These were created under Louis XIV. A wall prevented wild animals from leaving the forest and crossing the Seine. Gates limited the movement of the Frettois during hunting season.
An old map of La Frette from 1744 shows a village by the water. Above it lies a plateau covered in vineyards. By 1781, about sixty houses lined the towpath. They connected to the plateau by a path and two roads.
The Frettois obtained the creation of an independent municipality during the Revolution in 1790. In 1791, they defined a territory taken from Cormeilles and Montigny. Since then the contours of the city have never been questioned.
The parish gained the status of a subsidiary in 1844. From 1851 onwards, it was allowed to have its own priest. For over 800 years, life in La Frette-sur-Seine revolved around its port. Viticulture and plaster quarries also defined it. Later the cultivation of lilacs was added to the mix. These have been the lifeblood of the inhabitants of La Frette-sur-Seine for generations.
The Passage de la Frette sits at the heart of a region where vines were planted in the 4th century. The Abbots of Saint-Denis understood the potential of the steep slopes and sunny fertile soils for growing vines. The mariners of La Frette became winegrowers on their land. The Frette-sur-Seine lies in the heart of the vineyard. The wines were appreciated at the court of the Kings of France over the centuries.
Imagine boats stopping at La Frette-sur-Seine to load plaster and wine. The activity was so successful that in 1370, the port and the “plaster” field contributed 40 pounds to pay the ransom of King Jean II. Three embarkation ports once existed on the banks. The first was at the current location of Square Marcel Deshayes. The second operated until 1920 at the Base des Sports Nautiques. The third located between the church and the Côte à Boivin was reserved for wine shipments. All this happened under the watchful eye of the small church. It was built between the 12th and 13th centuries. It is dedicated to Saint-Nicolas the patron saint of children sailors and students. He ensured the protection of seafarers.
In the 19th century, the cultivation of lilacs became a new source of income for the Frettois. During the flowering season, all other work was suspended. The community united to make bouquets. They would then take them to the Halles de Paris in the evening.
Picture the hillsides adorned with blue, white and violet flowers. These colors blend with the blue of the Seine. They enchanted painters and writers who came to recharge on the banks of our town.
In 1892, the train arrived. A stop was created in 1894 to facilitate the arrival of Parisians. They came to enjoy the many hotels and restaurants by the water. The population increased from 420 inhabitants in 1899 to 4,738 in 2021.
Today, the Passage de la Frette is a reminder of this past. It stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of a village. A village that has transformed across centuries. It is a village that has adapted to the changing tides of history.