This impressive selection of photographs, some previously unpublished,

documents the changing face of Paris and presents a nostalgic,

yet lively, record of the growth of France's capital city.

They reveal the talent - or genius in some cases - of the architects

and urban planners behind the city's construction, from Baron Haussmann

and the spectacular building sites of the 19th century

to the modern developments of recent years,

from the city's best-loved monuments to its emblematic theatres,

department stores, and bridges.

This book takes us on a journey through the city's neighbourhoods

and remarkable buildings, and enriches our understanding

of why Paris is considered "the most beautiful city in the world."