File:Les Piliers des Halles, rue de la Tonnellerie.jpg

The famous Parisian market known as "les Halles" dates back to as early as the middle ages. By the 19th century, the markets at les Halles were a main source for everyday groceries and general food products. While the structures remained relatively unchanged for three centuries, the markets were destroyed and rebuilt in 1851 in an attempt to modernize the 800 year old architecture. The new design consisted of 10 pavilions, various large covered streets, and an efficient water distribution system, all of which inspired the design of other European markets. Before being destroyed in 1969, the markets of les Halles represented the heart of Paris, the central point around which many of Haussmann's new boulevards were designed. This photograph was taken in 1855 by Charles Marville, a photographer well-known for capturing images of the older Parisian quarters prior to urbanization. In 1850, Marville was hired by the city of Paris to document the changes brought on during the demolition and reconstruction of the Haussmann era.