Les Halles Centrales, view from the galleries of Saint-Eustache Church, Paris dans sa splendeur, 1861

Paris dans sa splendeur (Paris in its splendor) was published in 1861, in a capital undergoing a complete metamorphosis as a result of the gigantic modernisation works directed by the Prefect of the Seine, Georges-Eugène Haussmann.

Napoleon III and Haussmann, who had a liberal economic vision, wanted to make Paris a prestigious capital where life was good, with opera houses, parks, squares and wide, airy boulevards where large shops could be set up.

The new opera house designed by Charles Garnier and the renovation of Les Halles by Victor Baltard will be among the most emblematic achievements.

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