Paris before haussmann

Georges-Eugène, Baron Haussmann (March 27, 1809 - January 11, 1891) was a French civic planner whose name is associated with the rebuilding of Paris. He was born in that city of a Protestant family, German in origin.

He was educated at the College Henri IV, and subsequently studied law, attending simultaneously the classes at the Paris conservatoire of music[?], for he was a good musician.

He became sous-préfet of Nérac[?] in 1830, and advanced rapidly in the civil service until in 1853 he was chosen by Persigny prefect of the Seinedépartement in succession to Jean Jacques Berger[?], who hesitated to incur the vast expenses of the imperial schemes for the embellishment of Paris.

Georges-Eugène Haussmann Biography - Pantheon

Haussmann would remain in this post until 1870.

Commissioned by Napoleon III to instigate a program of planning reforms in Paris, Haussmann laid out the Bois de Boulogne[?], and made extensive improvements in the smaller parks. The gardens of the Luxembourg Palace[?] were cut dow