Paris – Around Town : Beaubourg and Les Halles (part 4) – Historical Events in Les Halles

Roman Era

A marketplace was first established on the Right Bank of the Seine in a place then called Les Champeaux.

10th Century

A larger market for meat, fruit and vegetables is known to have existed in the part of Paris which is now Les Halles.

1183

The market is enlarged by King Philippe Auguste, who built shelters for the market traders near St-Eustache church. This date is generally accepted as the founding of Les Halles as the city’s market.

1850s

Twelve huge iron and glass market halls are built. Napoleon III declares that Les Halles is essential to Paris life.

1965

Work begins on a modern wholesale market south of Paris, at Rungis.

1969

The
central Paris market is closed and moved to Rungis, partly to ease the
traffic congestion that was by now too much for the centre of the city.

1971

The old buildings are demolished and digging begins, to create for a time what is known as the trou des Halles (the hole of Les Halles).

Mid-1970s

As
well as the shopping malls, gardens are created and buildings next to
the cleared space can be seen properly for the first time, including the
church of St-Eustache.

1977

The
Forum des Halles opens and ensures that the area remains as busy as
ever, although the goods for sale (high fashion, CDs, fast food) have
changed considerably since the market’s early days.

1986

Second phase of the Forum des Halles opens, creating the biggest
collection of shops under one roof in Paris, though many will always lament the passing of the original market.