Paris de siècle en siècle

Step back into the ancient riverbanks where Paris first breathed, a place the author calls the “island cradle” of Lutetia. Through vivid narration and detailed lithographs, the early Gaulish village, its Roman conquest, and the first stone palaces emerge, showing how a modest settlement grew into a bustling hub. The book paints the shifting centre of the city as a living organism, moving from island to hill and across the Seine as each century reshapes its form.

Beyond the facts, the work reflects on the paradox of progress: new fashions and fortifications bring both beauty and loss. Each illustration, from delicate line drawings to colourful plates, captures streets, markets, and monuments as they appeared in their time, allowing listeners to picture the layers of history beneath modern Paris. The narrative invites a deeper appreciation of how geography, politics, and imagination have constantly remapped the heart of the capital.