BARON GEORGES EUGENE HAUSSMAN

Born 1809 Died 1891

Haussman was a famous for the rebuilding of Paris in the late 19th century. He was born in that city on the 27th of March 1809 from a Protestant family, of German origin. He was educated at the College Flenri IV, and subsequently studied law, attending simultaneously the classes at the Paris conservatoire of music, for he was a good musician. He became prefect of Nérac in 1830, and advanced rapidly in the civil service until in 1853 he was chosen by Persigny prefect of the Seine.

In these years Paris had been growing out of control, was extremely disorganized and had many problems that stemmed from poor city planning. Previous rulers of the city had begun to address the situation and started to make plans to reorganize the city.

Haussmann's job was basically to implement and adjust the plans that Napoleon III had drawn up for the city, working out details along the way:

- A new arterial road system was laid out.
- Roads were widened.
- More squares were created.
- New water supply and sewer systems were built.
- Benches and gas street lamp and trees were installed to line the streets.
- New bridges across the Seine were built.
- A park system was created.
- More public buildings were built.

Haussmann divided the rebuilding of Paris into three smaller projects:

-Project 1:

Took place mostly on the right Bank of Seine;

Boulevard was extended;

The old Central Markets were rebuilt.

-Project 2:

New Boulevard was created (example: Boulevard St. Germain);

Ile de la Cite was redone as the civic centre, remaining the heart of the city;

More parks were built including Park Monceau and Bois de Vincennes.

-Project 3:

Boulevards were extended to the outskirts of the city;

The interior ring of streets was completed;

Champs-Elysees and Place de l’Opera were finished, making up the "fashionable" centre of Paris.

written by Giovanni Ferrario ( free13@itcgbianchi.mi.it )