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.