PARIS FROM NAPOLEON TO NOWADAYS
History of Paris France

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Paris under Napoleon

It was only after the revolutionary turmoil that Bonaparte had the Carrousel square widened where he put the "Arch de Triumph". He decided to build alongside the "Rue de Rivoli" a new wing but the works, interrupted under the Restauration period, will only be pursued, with the help of "Visconsi", under Napoleon IIIrd.

Napoleon had "Saint-André des Arts" destroyed. As for the civil architecture he had the "Grand Châtelet" and the Temple dungeon pulled down.

Restructuring in Paris is interrupted by his war adventures. After fifteen years of reign his achievements were a mere two arches of Triumph , one column, one stock exchange and a few slaughter houses ("Rochechouart", "Popincourt", and "Grenelle"), river quays and the “Rue de Rivoli” and "Rue de la Paix". The "Louvre" : during the "Commune" assault in 1871, the "Tuileries" were burnt out and in 1882 "Lefuel" was in charge of reconstructing both the Flore and Marsan pavillions.

Paris under Napoleon III and Haussman

Major building projects in Paris: in 1789 the town stopped changing. During the Restauration period large housing developments were carried out.

Napoleon IIIrd thought of creating new gates in Paris near the railway stations. What was new and special in Napoleon IIIrd and Baron Haussmann’s achievements were the openings. In order to demolish near perfect buildings, one had, first of all, to expropriate their residents.

The Haussmannian "entrances to Paris" were also housing developments, expropriated grounds cleared up on each side of the "entrances" became available to be built on.

Haussmann, destroyed a great number of gothic clock towers: The worst decision of all was the destruction on the "Ile de la Cité".

Appraisal of Haussmann’s task

The changes that took place in Paris received worldwide recognition. Haussmann’s gigantic task surprised many, not only for the importance of his works, but also for its speed.

Haussmann changed Paris completely.

Two major lines cut across at a North-South angle, the "boulevard Sébastopol" prolonged by the "boulevard Saint-Michel" and the second, in the East-West, in "rue de Rivoli" prolonged by the "Champs-Elysées".

The boulevards circular lines were in large boulevards, external boulevards, military boulevards; the Left Bank, with two extra roads. Finally, rounded squares spread radiant avenues ; l’"Etoile", la "République" la "Bastille", la "Nation", "Place d’Italie" and "Denfert-Rochereau". It was in the West of Paris that large new boulevards were opened. (8th, 16th, 17th and 18 th).

Parks and gardens were developed : Boulogne, Vincennes, les Buttes Chaumont, Monceau and Montsouris as well as several "squares".

At that time, famous monuments such as the Opera, les Halles, military barracks, were built in strategic spots (Place de la République, Boulevard Henri IV, Place Monge).

Parisians suffered from these urban transformations. One part of the working-class was expelled to the centre because rents for the new buildings were no longer affordable whereas the upper-class, preferred the western districts.

Shipping on the River Seine was significantly improved following the draining of the lochs and weirs.

World Fairs also gave a boost to the edification of the main architectural projects some of which still remain today.

Le "Louvre" today

The "Louvre" has seen many modifications in its structure. It has now become the largest museum in the world and, in 1988, the Pei pyramid was constructed to symbolize the union of the monument with time.

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