“A hidden vineyard?” you might ask, standing here at Place du Ratrait. Indeed, the very name “Retrait” whispers of a past far removed from the urban landscape we see today. Place du Ratrait, tucked away in the 20th arrondissement, echoes a time when vineyards, not buildings, cloaked the slopes of Ménilmontant. The name itself, a corruption of “Ratrait,” refers to a vineyard that once flourished on this very spot. Imagine, in the heart of Paris, rows of grapes sunning themselves on the hillside. This “Clos de Ratrait,” as it was known, lent its name to the pathway that wound its way through the vines, eventually becoming the street, and now the Place du Ratrait, we know today. The vineyard is long gone, swallowed by the city’s growth. Yet, its memory lingers in the name, a quiet testament to Ménilmontant’s agricultural past. In 1877, the name officially shifted from “Ratrait” to “Retrait.” But even in its altered form, it connects us to this vanished landscape. Today, Place du Ratrait stands as a blend of old and new. While the vineyards are gone, a new form of cultivation has taken root. The Association Le Ratrait has spearheaded an initiative to transform the area with vibrant street art and greenery. These murals, bursting with color and life, adorn the building facades, creating a unique urban canvas. Place du Ratrait isn’t just a place to pass through; it’s a place to pause, to reflect on the layers of history beneath our feet, and to appreciate the ever-evolving urban landscape.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to