A Day in Haussmann's Paris: Parks, Progress, and a Plan

A Day in Haussmann’s Paris: Parks, Progress, and a Plan

Today’s Theme: This lesson explores the monumental transformation of Paris during the 19th century under Emperor Napoleon III and his prefect, Baron Georges-Eugène Haussmann. We will examine how this era of massive urban renewal created the beautiful, functional city we know today, while also forcing difficult choices about nature, commerce, and community.

Morning Reading & Context:

We begin by comparing two of Haussmann’s most famous parks, each a former wasteland transformed with a very different philosophy. One was designed as a pure, dramatic escape for the public, while the other was built to help pay for itself. These two case studies reveal the complex questions every city faces when designing public space.

• 2025-09-04-when-stairs-told-your-story
• 2025-09-04-the-park-that-learned-to-pay-for-itself

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Part 1: Understanding the Vision

To understand the parks, we first need to understand the man and the mission behind them. The following video provides a fantastic overview of Haussmann’s entire project, explaining the problems he faced and the incredible scale of his solutions.

Video: Is Paris the world’s best-designed city?

Questions to Consider Before You Watch:

1. What do you already know about Paris? When you picture it in your mind, what is the first thing you see?
2. The video’s title asks if Paris is the ‘world’s best-designed city.’ What do you think makes a city well-designed or a nice place to live?
3. This story is about a time when Paris was completely rebuilt. As you watch, try to remember one big problem the city had in the past and one big change they made to fix it.

Questions for Discussion After You Watch:

1. The video said rebuilding Paris was “massively ambitious” and “disruptive.” What was one good thing that came from the reconstruction, and what was one difficult or controversial thing they had to do?
2. Why do you think they decided to make all the new buildings look so similar, with the same height, stone, and roof style? Do you think this makes the city more beautiful, or less interesting?
3. The video connects the historical redesign of Paris to the 2024 Olympics. Can you explain how the old city design is helping with the modern-day games?

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Part 2: Field Study - An Itinerary for Bois de Boulogne

Now that we’ve explored the history and the different design philosophies, it’s time to experience Haussmann’s vision firsthand. This itinerary will guide you through the Bois de Boulogne, the park designed to be both a natural escape and a commercial engine. As you walk, notice the blend of nature and business discussed in the letter and the video.

Getting There & Park Walk

• Transportation: Take the Métro Line 1 to Porte Maillot station. This will place you at the northeastern entrance to the Bois de Boulogne.

• A Strategic Walk Through the Park (2-3 hours):

  • Start at Porte Maillot: Enter the park and head southwest toward the Fondation Louis Vuitton
  • Fondation Louis Vuitton: Explore this stunning contemporary art museum designed by Frank Gehry, a modern landmark that continues the park’s legacy of blending culture and nature.
  • Cross-Park Journey: From the Foundation, walk southeast through the park’s varied landscapes, passing through wooded areas and open meadows.
  • Lac Inférieur: Pass by the park’s largest lake. Look for the rowboats for hire—a perfect example of Haussmann’s commercial planning.
  • Exit via Rue de Passy: Complete your journey by exiting the eastern side of the park onto Rue de Passy, experiencing how the park connects to the elegant residential neighborhoods that developed after Haussmann’s redesign.