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 in Zola's novel "Le Ventre de Paris" - the site lay empty for years, with a huge hole in the ground which became known as the Trou des Halles. Finally the hole was filled with an equally huge architectural ensemble, designed by Claude Vasoni and Georges Pencreach, and developed into one of the largest underground traffic hubs in Paris: two ; RER lines intersect a Métro line here, and there is a connection to the Châtelet station, the junction of four Métro lines. Above the ; RER and Métro tunnels and underground parking lots but still below ground level is the huge funnel-shaped complex of the Forum des Halles, opened in 1979.
Under Les Halles in Paris, the Nouveau Forum, opened in 1986, a look round the boutiques can be combined with a visit to the Centre Océanique Cousteau. Here you can dive down into the world of the sea, with its fauna and flora, and in the course of an afternoon relive the underwater adventures of Jacques Cousteau, the "father of marine research."
Address: Parc Océanique Cousteau, 18 Porte du Jour, F-75001 Paris, France
Hours:
10am-7pm; Tue:10am-5:30pm; Thu:10am-5:30pm
Transit: RER and Metro: Chatelet, Les Halles, Louvre.
Two pyramid-shaped glass houses containing a variety of tropical plants accompanies the carefullty crafted lime alleys, fountains and children's play area found in this civic garden.
On Level 1 at Les Halles is the Museum of Holography, an introduction to the colorful world of three- dimensional photography, in which reality and vision seem to merge, with displays illustrating the processes of storing and reproducing holographic images. Among the figures represented in fully rounded reality are Mickey Mouse, Captain Kirk of Starship "Enterprise" and sketches by Leonardo da Vinci.
Address: Les Halles Musée de l'Holographie, 15-21 Grand Balcon Forum des Halles, F-75001 Paris, France
Hours:
10am-7pm; Sun:1pm-7pm
Always closed on: New Year's Day (January 1), May Day / Labor Day (May 1), All Saints' Day - Christian (November 1), Remembrance Day / 1918 Armistice Day (November 11), Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Tips: Photography prohibited.
Disability Access: Full facilities for persons with disabilities.
The Vidéothèque de Paris, opened in 1988, houses within its area of 4,000sq.m/43,000sq.ft the most modern audiovisual archives in the country, with a great range of cinema and television films; the collection is expected to reach a total of 20,000 cassettes within the foreseeable future. Thanks to the Magnus computer system (named after Gaston Leroux's legendary three-armed character) visitors have access to 50 television screens on which they can select the films they want to see. There are also three rooms in which films can be shown to audiences of up to 300 people.
Address: Les Halles Vidéothèque, 2 Grande Galerie Forum des Halles, F-75001 Paris, France
Hours:
2:30pm-8:30pm; Closed: Mon
Always closed on: New Year's Day (January 1), 1945 Victory Day (May 8), May Day / Labor Day (May 1), Bastille Day - France (July 14), Assumption Day - Christian (August 15), All Saints' Day - Christian (November 1), Remembrance Day / 1918 Armistice Day (November 11), Christmas - Christian (December 25), Pentecost Monday (Whit Monday) - Christian, Ascension Thursday - Christian
Disability Access: Full facilities for persons with disabilities.
Here, on four glassed-in levels surrounding a courtyard, are a great range of shops, cinemas, theaters, restaurants and cafes, with the Pavillon des Arts (exhibitions). The marble figure of Pygmalion is by the Argentinian sculptor Julio Silva.
Address: Pavillon des Arts, Les Halles Porte Rambuteau Terrasse Lautréamont 101 rue Rambuteau, F-75001 Paris, France
Hours:
11:30am-6:30pm; Closed: Mon
Tips: Group visit and guide tour reserve in advance.
Disability Access: Full facilities for persons with disabilities.