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Les Halles de Paris : the legendary Parisian Food Market

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First period  : “the Belly of Paris”*

  • Les Halles (The Halls) was the wholesale fresh food market of Paris, until 1969. It was known  as the “Belly of Paris”.  This food market dated back as far as the 12th century. 
  • These famous glass and iron buildings were designed  by architect Victor Baltard (1805-1874) in the 1850s  . 

 

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Second period : the “hole of Les Halles”

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    “Le trou des Halles” (= “The hole of les Halls”) as it was called.

    End of “Les Halles le 27 février 1969. It was demolished in 1971 and left a hole for several years. 

  • The cast iron structures of the old Halls were demolished and an enormous hole was dug to construct what would become the central hub of the Future RER (Paris ‘s new urban railway hub) transportation system/ .
  • A decision was made to relocate the wholesale market to the suburb of Rungis , in the outskits of Paris. Rungis is now the largest wholesale food market in the world.
  • Two of the glass and cast iron market pavilions designed by Victor Baltard were dismantled and re-erected elsewhere; one in the Paris suburb of Nogent-sur-Marne, the other in Yokohama (Japan).

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Third period : “Le Forum des Halles”

quartier-des-hallesLe Forum des Halles was a multiple story commercial and shopping centre, opened in 1979. It was the most frequented shopping mail in the Paris area and the second most visited shopping mall in France.  There was a public garden too,  covering 4 hectares opened in 1986 and many of the surrounding streets were pedestrianized.

The Forum des Halles was largely underground and directly connected to the RER and metro of Chatelet Les Halles. ——————————————————————-

 

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The canopy by architect Patrick Berger

Fourth period : The canopy

 

The demolition of the previous building began around 2000. A canopy, a steel structure with a leaf-like roof has been built.

Here is a 1.3 minute video I shot today (the 5th of May – 2016) to let you discover the new Halles, the “Canopy of les Halles” :

 

It’s an “umbrella” made of 7000 tonnes of steel and 18000 pieces of glass. It covers a new shopping center. It alignes Les Halles with both the Pompidou Centre and the Palais-Royal. The new center opened last month (in April 2016). The new Forum des Halles is expected to welcome 37 million visitors each year

More photos (slideshow) :

 

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Up to 1969 : the famous glass and iron buildings by architect Victor Baltard (1805-1874) 

belly-of-paris ZOLA*«Le ventre de Paris” (1873) (“The Belly of Paris”) is the third novel in Emile Zola’s twenty-volume series “Les Rougon-Macquart”. It is set in and around “Les Halles”, It is Zola ‘s first novel entirely on the working class.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OTHER PHOTOS

PRIVATE WALKING TOURS with a native Parisian :

  • to see Paris in another perspective,
  • to know more about Paris lifestyle,
  • to discover Paris off the beaten path;

Don’t hesitate to CONTACT me

  • for a friendly walking tour 
  • You only, or you and the person you choose.

 

 

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“Paris is always a good idea” – Audrey Hepburn.

Yes, Paris is always a good idea, but in my opinion, it’s a wonderful idea to experience Paris in the Summer !

Summer is a very nice time for visiting Paris, (though there’s never a bad time to come to Paris !).  Paris seems relaxed, playful, less stressed. It’s a time for open-air events such as the “Fête de la Musique” (June 21st), the fireworks on Bastille day (July 14th), beaches along the Seine. Since many Parisians are gone (on holidays). Paris is uncrowded and the atmosphere relaxed. The perfect time for Paris lovers (Parisian and visitors Paris lovers), the perfect time to sit out on the terraces of cafes and watch the world go by, time to walk along the river Seine, to hear the birds singing.

Yes many Parisians have gone on holidays (especially from mid July to mid August, but still, many Parisians choose and love to stay in Paris during this period of time, the perfect time for Paris lovers, the perfect time to walk in quieter streets, to discover Paris’architecture, Paris’s parks, the banks of the river Seine… It’s even more enjoyable to walk in this very walkable city (!) and the relaxed atmosphere makes Paris even more beautiful during July and August !  And you can get on the Metro without being pushed, cycle in the city.  It’s definitely my favorite time in Paris. I’d love to live in in Paris during August all year long.