Haussmannization was a vast public works program commissioned by Emperor Napoleon III between 1853 and 1870, directed by Baron Haussmann. It involved renovating Paris by clearing slums, installing wide boulevards, rebuilding markets and parks, and building new water supply and sewage systems. This modernized Paris and changed it from a medieval city with cramped and crowded streets to a city with orderly planning and design. The renovations displaced many poor residents but created green spaces and infrastructure improvements, resulting in a more beautiful and healthy Paris that still exists today.

1. Haussmannization
Of Paris
 Haussmann's renovation of Paris was a vast public works
program commissioned by Emperor Napoléon III and
directed by his prefect of the Seine, Georges-Eugène
Haussmann, between 1853
and
187
0.
Figure 1: Georges-Eugene Haussmann,
commonly known as Baron Haussmann
Figure 2: Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte or
Napoleon III

2.  Pre-Haussmannisation
Figure 6: Rue Des Marmousets Figure 5: Rue Du Jardinet Figure 4:Rue Tirechamp
Figure 3: One of the first photographs of the busiest streets of Paris, Boulevard du
Temple, clicked by Daguerre

3.  During Haussmanninzation
Figure 7: Such were the poor sites of Paris while Haussmann’s
utopia was in its making. Haussmannization in the city led to the
displacement of nearly 350,000 poor from the centre.
Figure 8: Cartoons mocking
Haussmann for the destruction of the
artistic city of Paris were at their
peak during the 7 years of rebuilding.

4.  Post Haussmannization

5. Figure 10: (from left to right) a kiosk for a street merchant on Square Des Arts Et Metiers (1865). Kiosks
for newspapers, advertisements then became new centres of attraction in the monotonous streets.
Figure 9: The map of the city after Haussmannization and all the structured planning

6. Figure 11: Many painters painted the beautiful, or rather the boring avenues of
the new Paris
Figure 14: Parc Monceau, formerly the property of the family of
King Louis-Philippe, was redesigned and replanted by Haussmann.
A corner of the park was taken for a new residential quarter
(painting by Gustave Caillebotte).
Figure 13: Haussmann built the Parc
des Buttes Chaumont on the site of a
former limestone quarry at the
northern edge of the city.
Figure 12: The Bois de Vincennes
(1860–1865) was (and is today) the
largest park in Paris, designed to give
green space to the working-class
population of east Paris.

7.  Now & Then
Figure 15: The Bois de Boulogne (1852–1858) was inspired by Hyde Park in London, and was designed
to provide rest and relaxation for families of all classes of Parisians.

9.  As Paris stands today…
Figure 16: A bird's eye view of the city of Paris, as it appears today, with the Ache de
Triomphe in the centre