Page 22 - TravelSketch - PARIS
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DISCOVER & EXPLORE
8. Les Halles:
Samaritaine, Galerie Véro-Dodat, Montorgeuil,
Beaubourg
Referred to by Émile Zola as “Le Ventre de Paris” (Paris’Belly) in one of his novel,
th
les Halles always was a marketplace since the 11 century, to become in the
1850’s the largest food market in the world. In the 1970’s, the market was
displaced outside Pais (in Rungis) and it was converted into a 4 underground-level
mall and became a major commute hub for Paris and its region. Les Halles was
remodeled in 2018 in its current configuration to become the “Westfield Forum
des Halles” .
Nearby, La Samritaine, founded in 1870 was completely renovated in 2022 by the
Louis Vuitton Group to include a Department Store, a luxury hotel and a 3-Star
Michelin restaurant.
Rue de Montorgeuil , worth visiting, two blocks away from les Halles, is the busy
Montorgeuil street, a reminiscence of the old market.
The other mega construction project of the 1970’s was the Pompidou Museum of
Modert Art, nicked named the “Factory” or “Notre-Dame of Pipes” due to its
modern-industrial style covered with large pipes.
