THE TOPOGRAPHICAL EVOLUTION OF THE 
CITY OF PARIS 1 
By Edward R. Smith, B.A. 
Reference Librarian , Avery Architectural Library , Columbia University 
V.— Modern Paris 
I T has been necessary to follow with care 
the course of historical development in 
the plan of Paris. The French proverb, 
“ Study the plan and the facade will take care 
of itself,” applies as well to a city as to a 
building. A glance at any map of modern 
Paris shows precisely what the external ap¬ 
pearance of the city must be. The map 
itself is a work of art; the scale is charm¬ 
ingly preserved; the lines are harmonious; 
one feels that it represents the palatial home 
of a nation of artists. 
We must bear in mind that this unity and 
harmony of the plan is the work of many 
centuries, and especially of the seventeenth 
century, dominated by Louis XIV. and his 
school of architects and designers. The re¬ 
construction of the city in the nineteenth 
century was so complete, the necessary de¬ 
struction of old landmarks so considerable, 
as to create 
the impres¬ 
sion that the 
entire city is 
new. It ap¬ 
pears new,and 
in matters of 
detail little of 
the old town 
is left. This 
appearance is 
deceptive. 
The large 
fu ndamental 
lines and ar¬ 
rangements 
are inherited, 
and the in¬ 
heritance 
comes chiefly 
from the 
1 Continued from 
the November num¬ 
ber of “ House and 
Garden.” 
period covered by our preceding and fourth 
article. 
It is evident, moreover, that the old de¬ 
signers based their work on long established 
forms and arrangements. 'The scheme of 
ronds points and connecting avenues was 
common in all the royal forests. The plant¬ 
ing of trees along the roads is also an old 
French custom. 
THE REVOLUTION 
It is undoubtedly true that the city of 
Paris in all its breadth and dignity was well 
conceived before the Revolution, but not 
much was actually accomplished. T he boule¬ 
vards, Champs-Elysees, Place du d rone, 
Luxembourg, lnvalides, and Champs de 
Mars were in the open country. The artistic 
but uncomfortable medieval city within the 
enceintes was, as yet, untouched. It was this 
old city which the Revolution and the “ prog¬ 
ress ” of the 
nineteenth 
century at¬ 
tacked, anni¬ 
hilated and re¬ 
built, with the 
grievous loss 
of many 
charms and 
the creation of 
others per¬ 
haps equally 
valuable. 
To many 
English read¬ 
ers the words 
French Revo¬ 
lution stand 
for a few un¬ 
fort u n a t e 
years of an¬ 
archy and 
bloodshed, 
d'hese were 
FLAN OF PARIS SHOWING THE ENTIRE SERIES OF ENCEINTES 
From the Grande Encyclopedic 
i.—Enceinte of Philippe-Auguste 2.—Enceinte of Charles V. 3—Enceinte of Charles IX. 
4—The Mur d’Octroi 5—Present Fortifications 
27 5 
