Les Halles

Since the controversial demolition of the old Halles (Market Halls) and the transfer of the markets to Rungis in the late 1960s, the Halles quarter in Paris has been completely remodelled. It is now an extensive pedestrian area, crowded throughout the day, mainly by young people.

From medieval times onwards the markets were the focal point of the Rive Droite. The first covered market halls were built in 1183, in the reign of Philippe Auguste, and seven centuries later, under Napoleon III, Victor Baltard (1805-75) constructed the huge functional iron halls which soon became one of the city's landmarks and a popular haunt of revellers after a night on the town. After the demolition of the Halles - the "belly of Paris", as described