BARON HAUSSMANN

Baron Georges Eugène Haussmann  (March 27, 1809 - January 11, 1891) 

born in Paris his parents came from Alsace adopted the term "Baron" to describe himself

as a member of the French Senate Studied law at the College Henri IV Attended classes at the Paris conservatoire

of music joined the civil service appointed in 1853 by Emperor Napoleon III

to modernise Paris

Napoleon III hoped to better control the flow of traffic

encourage economic growth make the city "revolution-proof" by making it harder to build barricades.

Haussmann accomplished all this by tearing up many of the old,

twisting streets and dilapidated apartment houses, and replacing them with the wide, tree-lined

boulevards and expansive gardens

GOAL of Baron Haussmann

to tear down the worst slums and discourage riots

the city more accessible, accommodate the new railroads, beautify Paris

Two views on Baron Haussmann: the man who destroyed Old Paris the man who created New Paris

Haussmann the Hero

Parisians perceived the streets as dirty, crowded, and unhealthy

no sidewalks

Haussmann the Hero

So he gentrified the areas, with wide roads, avenues, boulevards, luxurious apartment blocks to house the wealthy, shops, parks, piped water and hundreds of kilometres of sewers. 

paved footpaths for the pedestrians He ringed with city with railway stations

to make the journey easier to the provinces.

Haussmann the Hero

Arc de Triomphe saw the Arc de Triomphe as the central

triumph To which all roads eventually led  designed his city so that the Arc could be

seen from great distances as the culminating point of perspective.

designed the surrounding boulevards to arrive like a twelve rayed star at the huge roundabout.

Haussmann the Hero

Arc de TriompheHaussmann the Hero

Arc de TriompheHaussmann the Hero

Haussmann the Hero

wider, and better ventilated streets encouraged upper bourgeois strolling.

Shoppers don’t need to resort to the safety of shopping arcades.  They could enjoy strolling along the wide footpaths.  

Train travel and railway construction boomed.

Travel had never been so easy or fast. 

Haussmann the Hero

During the administration of Baron Haussmann

71 miles of new roads 400 miles of pavement 320 miles of sewers were added to Paris 100, 000 trees were planted housing, bridges, and public buildings

were constructed

Haussmann the Destroyer of Paris Many Parisians were troubled by the

destruction of old roots Many felt that Paris had lost its soul  the citizens became detached from one

another The continuous destruction of physical Paris

led to a destruction of social Paris as well. the new city lacked the social cohesion of the

old one, separating as it did the wealthy from the poor.

Haussmann the Destroyer of Paris Many Parisians were troubled by the

destruction of old roots Many felt that Paris had lost its soul  the citizens became detached from one

another The continuous destruction of physical Paris

led to a destruction of social Paris as well. the new city lacked the social cohesion of the

old one, separating as it did the wealthy from the poor.

Haussmann the Destroyer of Paris was accused of misspending public money

and fraud Critics accused him of "Haussmannomania, "

heavy spending, and disrespect for the laws governing finance

Napoleon III fired Haussmann on January 5, 1870

During the administration of Baron Haussmann

spent a total of 2, 115, 000, 000 francs, the equivalent of $1.5 billion in today's currency.

His work had destroyed much of the medieval city. 

It is estimated that he transformed 60% of Paris' buildings.