Who would have thought that a street named Rue du Château, meaning “Castle Street”, wouldn’t actually have a castle? It’s true! Rue du Château here in Paris got its name from the Château du Maine, a grand three-story townhouse built around 1730. Sadly, the “castle” was demolished in 1898, leaving behind only its name for this street. While the castle may be gone, Rue du Château still holds fascinating stories. Imagine back in the 1860s when the International Association of Working Men was banned. Their supporters, including a woman named Nathalie Le Mel, cleverly created cooperative restaurants as a cover for their political organizing. One such restaurant was “La Marmite,” meaning “cooking pot,” located right here at number 47. Fast forward to the 1920s and you’d find yourselves amidst the fervor of the Surrealist movement. The bar at number 53, the Bar du Chateau, was a frequent haunt for prominent figures like André Breton and Louis Aragon. One can only imagine the revolutionary ideas discussed within its walls. But it wasn’t all about art and politics on Rue du Château. At number 114, during the tumultuous years of World War II, lived a Romanian Jewish Communist and resistance fighter named Olga Bancic, a stark reminder of the brave souls who fought for freedom.
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