Who was Baron Haussmann and Why Should We Care?
Bonjour,
Yesterday, we enjoyed a leisurely stroll through the grand boulevards of Paris, including Boulevard Haussmann, Boulevard Capucines, and Boulevard des Italienes.
If you plan to come to Paris or have already been, take five minutes to read the attached article. Baron Haussmann created the Paris we all know and love but not without a great deal of controversy.
In 1853, Napoleon III “was looking for someone to…rebuild Paris as a modern capital that was worthy of France.” Haussmann was not an architect, an urban planner, or even a baron, but he rose to great heights with the support of Napoleon. His goals were devised to counteract the following:
1. Narrow crooked streets which you can still see in Le Marais where we are.
2. Rapid growth and over-crowding
3. Streets that were medieval style with open gutters for sewage and breeding grounds for disease.
4. Inefficiency for traffic and commerce.
5. Prevent revolution and allow quick access for troops (narrow streets were easy to barricade)
His plan consisted of:
1. An expanded sewer system
2. Wide Boulevards such as the Avenue de l’Opera
3. Gas lighting for the streets
4. Construction of monuments
5. Symmetrical road system
6. Addition of parks
7. Dividing Paris into sections or arrondissements
He used the neoclassical style of the period, represented by buildings with five stories and elaborate balconies.
The on-going question is, “Did Haussmann destroy old Paris, uproot people from their homes, demolish cherished neighborhood traditions, or did he create new Paris?” In the process, 20,000 buildings were destroyed and 30,000 new ones were erected. If you want to read a very personalized story about how families were affected, I recommend a touching novel by Tatiana de Rosnay entitled “The House I Loved.”
We had lunch at one of the famous places in Paris: Le Grand Café des Capucines.
The “Purely Paris” photo of the day is for my little Carson, a subway shot of The Minions.
Hope you have a nice day and enjoy these photos from our stroll.
L & B
July 5, 2017 @ 10:27 am
Nice to see an early photo of Rue Galande in the Latin Quarter. We stayed in a flat on that street for our first two visits to Paris and am glad that Haussmann didn’t tear down all of the old streets! Lovely photos of your strolls through Paris!
July 5, 2017 @ 2:00 pm
Much of the Latin Quarter and the Marais were unchanged, thank goodness. It’s a mixed feeling I have towards Haussmann’s Paris.
July 5, 2017 @ 12:28 pm
Wonderful post and photos, L&B.
Haussmann seems to inspire extremes of emotion and opinion in some. I think the answer to the ongoing question is ‘yes and yes’ or, as I like to say about many things, truth is in the middle. Of course I also think Paris is perfect and love the combination of ancient, winding streets and spacious parks and classic lighting and Haussmannian buildings.
Thank you for sharing your stroll and a well-balanced piece! Cool tables/tablecloth holders too 🙂
July 5, 2017 @ 1:59 pm
Merci, Carolyn. You always make my efforts so worth it!
July 5, 2017 @ 1:43 pm
Once again I want you to know how much I look forward to your post each morning. Thank you for the focus on Haussmann. I had never thought how his plans impacted the people of Paris until I read the book you mentioned. Bittersweet “progress” to create the Paris we enjoy today. Best to you both; your writing and photography are fabulous!!!
July 5, 2017 @ 1:58 pm
So nice of you, Beth! Merci
July 5, 2017 @ 4:17 pm
As always a wonderful post! I love the Haussmann buildings,even with their history. The clocks are beautiful, but don’t you wonder who maintains them and keeps them set on time? Do you suppose the clockworks are digitized now? See where you’ve sent my mind today! We will be there in less than a week! Wow!
July 5, 2017 @ 5:31 pm
Excited to share more good times together. We must go see the remodeled Hotel Crillon which opened today! Four years of restoration. Maybe a lunch there like the Athene
July 6, 2017 @ 2:11 am
I learned something today! Thank you for keeping those brain cells healthy.
July 6, 2017 @ 1:53 pm
What a great summary of what Haussmann did! I’ve never seen it explained so clearly. As always, I love the pictures.
July 6, 2017 @ 2:02 pm
Really enjoy your blog Linda! Keep up the beautiful pictures and writings!
July 7, 2017 @ 4:31 am
Merci!