DISCOVER THE XIXᵉ CENTURY - EMPIRE, RESTORATION AND REVOLUTIONS

A century of upheaval

The XIXᵉ century in Paris was marked by a succession of regimes and spectacular transformations. The city, in turn imperial, monarchical and republican, constantly reinvented itself to the rhythm of history.

Why take an interest?

Because it was in the XIXᵉ century that Paris became the modern metropolis we know today. Urban planning, transport, cultural and political life underwent profound changes, leaving an imprint that is still visible in today's capital.

A brief history and anecdotes

Napoleon I turned Paris into an imperial capital, multiplying triumphal arches and commemorative columns. Napoleon III's Second Empire saw the launch of Baron Haussmann's great works: straight boulevards, ashlar buildings, parks and new perspectives. But the city was also shaken by the revolutions of 1830 and 1848, and above all by the Commune of 1871, a tragic episode in which Paris became the scene of bloody fighting.

Landmarks of the XIXᵉ century

- Arc de Triomphe and Vendôme column, imperial symbols
- July Revolution (1830) and February Revolution (1848)
- Haussmann's urban transformation (1853-1870)
- The Paris Commune in 1871
- Birth of the Paris metro at the end of the century

Tips for further study

- Exploring the great Haussmann boulevards
- Discover the covered passages and department stores of the XIXᵉ century
- Visit the Musée d'Orsay, dedicated to the art of the XIXᵉ century
- Read Victor Hugo, Balzac or Zola to relive popular and bourgeois Paris

Through the audio guide

🎧 Listen to our immersive account of Paris in the XIXᵉ century, between imperial grandeur, revolutions and modernisation, on History Guide City Paris!
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