Rue Oberkampf is an ordinary street in the 11th arrondissement, which during the 18th and 19th century developed with a lot of small industries and was inhabited by their workers. Today, there is an architectural and social mix, with some old, disappearing activities, some popular bars and restaurants…
There is a place on Rue Oberkampf, where urban artists are allowed to “perform” in an official way. A large wall is since a couple of years officially dedicated to urban art. Every ten or fifteen days you will see a new decoration. Behind this is an association called the M.U.R. (see link to their site) (I’m a member), sponsored by the City of Paris, Centre Pompidou, Cartier, Canal+…
Watching a “performance” the other day, I made a little walk in the immediate neighbourhood and discovered some nice “passages”, alleys, more particularly the “Cité du Figuier” (fig-tree). There are many similar sites here and elsewhere in Paris. You must learn to look to the right and the left and push some gates.
The “Cité du Figuier” used thus to be full of small workshops and to be inhabited by the workers. It has definitely a lot of charm, although the workshops today are more linked to art, publishing, architect offices…
As you can see from the top photo, people who work or live here seem to have adopted bikes as a major means of transportation. The bikes are parked under the fig-tree.
In some porches you can find some old signs of previous activities and also some new illustrations.
Entering the alley, you will pass in front of the little home of the “gardienne”. Only the cat observed me.
Here are some more pictures from other alleys in the neighbourhood…
… some with an even stronger past industrial aspect.
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