Keeping Hauss

One hundred ninety-seven years ago today, on March 27, 1809, Georges Haussman was born. A footnote figure in history today, he was responsible for improving the layout of Paris.

A Frenchman, Haussman was an architect. He was hired by Napoleon III of France to improve the French capital. Paris had become quite disorderly, and it was poorly planned out; also, Napoleon III dreamed of bringing glory to both himself and to France (he always seemed to be living in the shadow of his legendary uncle), and felt that revamping the layout of Paris would bring him great acclaim. Haussman requested that entire blocks of the city betorn down, and he replaced them with newer public buildings, large open areas for monuments, and parks. Parisian streets were given lights and benches, and the sewer system was improved drastically.

Perhaps the key change that Haussman brought to Paris was in the layout of the streets. The roads had long been too narrow, so Haussman had them widened. The medieval streets, which were crooked and curvy, were straightened. According to Wikipedia, "There are two views of Baron Haussmann: One depicts him as the man who destroyed Old Paris, and the other as the man who created New Paris."

Haussman lived to the age of 81, dying in 1891. His legacy is tremendous, though his name is not remembered widely today. Had it not been for Baron Haussman, the modern city of romance we know as Paris might be much different.

Sources: InfoPlease, Wikipedia, Freeway