Where does Paris architecture come from ?

Why the Parisian buildings look this unique way ?

Bonjour, it’s Théo 👋

It’s rainy today in Paris, as I’m writing this letter. But even between the water drops, you can distinguish the iconic architecture of the Parisian boulevards.

The small buildings, with the same ornaments, the high windows and the moldings on the ceiling. The Parisian urban decor is unique in his own way.

You can feel that the French capital city decided to stay authentic and traditional, while most of the biggest cities in the world try to scrap the sky with the highest constructions possible.

Paris is not Dubaï, but that’s why we like it !

But where does this beautiful architecture come from ? Why Paris is looking this way ?

Photo by Michelle Williams on Unsplash

Baron Haussmann

Between 1853 and 1870, the Baron Georges-Eugène Haussmann was governing Paris under the reign of French Emperor Napoléon III (the nephew of the first Napoléon).

He decided to modernize Paris with the biggest changes ever made in the city. Paris has been re-built around large boulevards to make the transport easier. He designed a type of building that would let the city breath while having his own style, and honoring the famous monuments that were already existing.

A lot of places and roundabouts were created to facilitate navigation in Paris, and the ‘Haussmannian’ architecture was born.

L’immeuble Haussmannien

An ‘immeuble haussmannien’ (= Haussmannian building) is easy to recognize in the Parisian boulevards. Its architecture is built to follow the social hierarchy of the rich ‘bourgeois’ families that were living in Paris.

Each building doesn’t exceed 7 floors (ground floor + 6 floors above), to keep an homogeneous architecture. The richest people were usually living in the ‘2ème étage’ (the 2nd floor above the ground floor), with a larger apartment and a balcony.

On the last floor, just under the roof, you can find a ‘Chambre de bonne’, literally ‘maid’s bedroom’. It’s a small bedroom for the handmaids and servants. Nowadays, most of the students rent them because they are the cheapest apartments in Paris.

A open-air museum

Now you know a little bit more about Paris and its incredible architecture.

With the places, monuments and stylish buildings in the boulevards, you can see Paris as an open-air museum. Having a walk in the streets is an activity on its own, and you can meditate about your life while admiring the statues and ornaments everywhere.

If you come to Paris, don’t forget to stroll around, to get lost a little bit, to take the time to appreciate the city around you.

Travelling in Paris is about slowing down.

See you in Paris,

À bientôt 👋

Théo