A Paris Makeover: Le Plessis-Robinson and Marne-lá-Vallée

In this series of ‘Return to Beautiful Architecture,’ we visit extensive renovations in and around the City of Lights.

Extensive renovations at the town of Marne La Vallee show a return to classic architecture. EQRoy/Shutterstock

In 1853, Prefect Georges-Eugéne Haussmann of France’s Department of the Seine initiated one of history’s most massive and brilliant urban rebuilding projects—the renovation of Paris. This renovation was a masterpiece of French classicism.

Over half of the city as it now stands was completed under his direction and considerably more was based on his planning. Its impact on Parisian and world architecture is almost impossible to exaggerate.