Paris Belle Epoque, LA PLACE DU TROCADERO ET SON QUARTIER anglais
16TH DISTRICT AND TROCADERO SQUARE
The 16th district was/became part of the city of Paris under Napoleon 3rd reign.
Before the 19th Century, the 16th district was covered by the countryside. Abbeys and convents existed such as the abbey created by Henriette of France, the king Louis 13th’ sister, who was married to Charles the 1st, king of England. The abbey was dedicated to/welcomed high ranking young ladies. 3 villages were born through out the years : Passy, Chaillot and Auteuil, nowadays cities of the close Parisian suburb.
In the 19th Century, the emperor Napoleon 3rd organized a huge urbanisation project. Then, he included these villages into the city of Paris to enlarged it and provide more space to the inhabitants. (100 000 inhabitants before 1800, 1 000 000 at the end of 1800)
To start his project, he ended Napoleon 1st’s projects such as the arch of Triumph at the top of the hill of Chaillot, and the opening of new streets. He also wanted to keep the aristocratic class in the city. This is the reason why he created the Villa. There are buildings gathered in an area sharing a private street. It looked like the mansion, with private gardens, and protected from the exterior world.
In the beginning of the 20th Century, the district is the witness of a new architectural style called Art Nouveau, created by Guimart. A few years later, Le Corbusier experienced there a brand new modern style, characterized by a free of details/sober façade decoration.
About the Trocadero square, it is located down the hill of Chaillot, on the right bank of the Seine River. Napoleon 1st wanted to build a huge palace for his son, king of Rome. Then, he put down the former constructions. But his son, also called/well known as the Little Eagle, could never enjoy it, his father did not have time to achieve it.
In 1878, a palace was built for the universal exhibition. It was inspired by a castle located in South of Spain, in a region called Andalousia, and called Trocadero, hence the name of the square. The construction was destroyed after the exhibition, but the square kept the name of the palace.
Nowadays, we can see the palace built for the Universal Exhibition of Art and Techniques, organized in 1937. It is composed of 2 curved wings, inheritance of the wings dating back to the Trocadero palace, leaving from a huge esplanade which dominates the river and the left bank. It is lined by gilded bronze statues representing summer, lunch, etc. The wings house 4 museums such as the very new City of Architecture, the museum of the human being. Under the esplanade, the palace houses the National Popular Theatre of Chaillot (1920). Down the esplanade, also called the human rights square, you can enjoy a garden with fountains, very appreciated by Parisians in summer.
And now, I let you admire the very beautiful view on the Eiffel Tower and its garden the Champs de Mars.