Featured Stories
Rue Norvins
When comparing Eugene Atget's and Christopher Rauschenberg's photos of The Sacré-Coeur from Rue Norvins in the gorgeous Montmartre with our photo taken many years later, the rapid gentrification of…
Galerie Vivienne
The first covered shopping passages appeared in Paris near the end of the eighteenth century. At their peak, there was a network of more than 200 passages, many interconnected and ornately decorated…
Galeries Lafayette Haussmann
Haussmannization greatly influenced the Parisian lifestyle of the 19th and 20th centuries, changing the appearance of Paris forever. As the undertaking of Haussmannization increased within…
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Le Marais
18 Locations ~ Curated by Lily Andersson, Leigh Poetzsch, Lourdes Arana, Caroline FletcherLife and Death in Montparnasse
14 Locations ~ Curated by Alexis Kriegh, Mackenzie Martin, Caroline Nowlin, and Taylor ReeseThe Evolution of Retail in Paris
12 Locations ~ Curated by Julia Schloss, Eliza Spratt, Griffin Link, and Maggie BarkerRevisiting Atget
9 Locations ~ Curated by Washington and Lee History and Photography StudentsExposition Universelles
16 Locations ~ Curated by Anna Kate Benedict, Frances Conner, JoAnn Michel, Brantley SandersRecent Stories
Le Select
At the corner of the Rue Vavin in Montparnasse, the Le Select opened as an instant success in 1925 by the Pléget family. It served as a meeting place for intellectuals, artists, writers, dancers and other creative types during the interwar period…
The Sound of Light: The Eiffel Tower as seen from the Champ De Mars
Named for its unique placement and ties to the nearby military school, the Parc du Champs-de-Mars (translated: “Field of Mars) was first opened in 1870 (Paris Info). Located in the 7th arrondissement, it is now a public park area dedicated to the…
A Monumental View: The Trocadéro Plaza
Though it has been modified and restored in structure, today’s Trocadéro Plaza remains firmly rooted in its purpose. Built in 1878 for use and display in the 1937 World’s Fair, the Trocadéro Palace is the only original building to have survived that…
Palais de Tokyo
During the 1937 Exposition Universelle, a sense of optimism existed throughout the entire event following the recovery from World War I and a belief that following peace would be lasting. Many felt that the exhibition was a part of a "dawning of good…
The Bon Marché Food Hall vs. Galeries Lafayette Food Hall
The Bon Marché
By: Maggie Barker
The food court at the Bon Marché is truly a spectacle. There is a whole separate, multi floor building right across the street from the main building dedicated to food. The separate building, called La Grande…
Galeries Lafayette: Montparnasse
When our class took a group tour to Montparnasse, we went to see the view from the top of the highest building in the area, the Montparnasse Tower. As we came back down and were waiting for the rest of the class outside, I looked around and was…
W&L Paris
A project by W&L ParisA collaborative exploration of the city by Washington and Lee University history and photography students. Read more About Us