Fabric of Paris Collections
Looking for posts on a specific theme, or to read all the posts in a series? It can be difficult to wade through the chronological archive. Things are better organised here!
Transport-themed series
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Tramways in Île-de-France: a history
From its humble beginnings as a piecemeal collection of horse-drawn routes, watch the tramway network of the Paris region develop, adapt and flourish, before floundering and flickering out. Then witness its resurrection and rapid growth as the 20th century gives way to the 21st, and look forward to the future of trams in Île-de-France.
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Transport that never was
Featuring floating trains, dystopian dreams of automobile dominance and the hare-brained idea of an airport on the Seine, discover a world of miscalculations, compromises and alleged corruption as we visit five transport projects for the Paris region that never saw the light of day.
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New lives of disused transport infrastructure
From the park that inspired New York's High Line to one of the world's most popular art museums, Paris has successfully transformed a century and a half's worth of discarded transport infrastructure into a stunning array of destinations. Learn how goods warehouses, train depots, car parks and more have found new lives as locations for Parisians and tourists alike.
Other collections
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The best bridges in Paris
The French capital counts over 300 bridges in a diverse range of architectural styles, each one contributing to the ongoing story of an ancient city. In these posts we take a look at the history and design of some carefully selected crossings: six over the Seine and ten crossing other barriers, including canals, railways and even a cemetery.
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Behind the names of Paris's streets
The history of the ancient city of Paris is graven in its streets, whose names allude to everything from torture devices to prostitution, from medieval city walls to Franco-American relations. Discover the stories behind a few of these.
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Planning Paris
Paris has received global attention in recent years for its efforts to reorient its streets away from automobile dominance. Read about these and other recent urban planning initiatives in the City of Light.
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