In 1672, cows ambled down a dusty road, their hooves kicking up clouds of dirt. This road, now known as Rue des Balkans, was once called “Route aux Vaches,” or “Cow Road”. Rue des Balkans, located in the 20th arrondissement of Paris, stretches from Rue Vitruve to Rue de Bagnolet. Imagine the pastoral scene, a far cry from the bustling city street it is today. The cows were headed to pasture, their lowing echoing in the air. This route, marked on the 1672 Jouvin de Rochefort map, was a vital pathway for local farmers. Later, the street’s name shifted to “Grand Chemin de Vincennes”. This reflected its role as a major route leading to the town of Vincennes. For a time, this thoroughfare was also known as “Rue de Vincennes”. Interestingly, a portion of the street formed the southwestern boundary of the Château de Bagnolet’s park. This park extended towards what is now the Place de la Porte-de-Montreuil. Rue des Balkans eventually earned its current name. The Balkans, a mountain range dividing Bulgaria from European Turkey, lent their name to this Parisian street. This renaming occurred in 1877, officially marking the end of the “Cow Road” era. Today, Rue des Balkans is a far cry from its agricultural past. Yet, echoes of its history remain, hidden beneath the pavement, waiting to be discovered.
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