This year, the city of Paris has decided to highlight the figure of Victor Baltard, architect of the old Parisian Halles. Conferences, tours and free events are planned to celebrate him.
After Hector Guimard last year, it's now Victor Baltard 's turn to be highlighted by the City of Paris in 2025, to mark the 220th anniversary of his birth. Throughout the year, conferences, walks and other free events are organized throughout the city to pay tribute to this architect who left his mark on the capital, serving it for almost 30 years. His achievements include Les Halles, no longer in existence, theSaint-Augustin church and the restoration of theSaint-Eustache church.
Son of Louis-Pierre Baltard, an architect and teacher at the Beaux-Arts de Paris, he was appointed Inspector of Fine Arts in 1839, becoming responsible for decorative projects in the city's churches, then architect in charge of decorating the former Hôtel de Ville from the mid-19th century onwards. Using a combination of iron, glass and metal, he designed the 12 pavilions of Les Halles de Paris, which inspired Zola's work.
Programming
- February 18, 2025 - 6:30pm: Inaugural lecture for the Victor Baltard year by Bertrand Lemoine - Salons de l'Hôtel de Ville
- March 18, 2025 / To be continued: 1 Tuesday a month: Inaugural lecture of the Mardis de l'histoire de Paris by the historical societies
of the arrondissements on the theme of Industrial Heritage and the Fabrique Parisienne - Auditorium, Hôtel de Ville
- March 2025: Screening and discussion of Eve Vanderstegen's Ventre de Paris - Forum des Images des Halles
- March 2025: Iron and glass heritage walk - Online on the DETOUR application - CAUE 75
- April 13, May 18, June 22: Heritage walk from Saint-Lazare to Saint-Augustin
- May 2025: Reading of excerpts from Emile Zola's Le Ventre de Paris - Théâtre Déjazet
- June 2025: Exhibition Baltard du Visible à l'Invisible, artworks by Paris elementary school pupils - Bibliothèque Forney
- 3rd quarter 2025: Conference on the transformations and evolution of Baltard buildings
- September/October 2025: Photographic exhibition on Baltard's work - Jardin Nelson Mandela
- October/November 2025: L'assassinat de Baltard photographic exhibition - Grilles de l'Hôtel de Ville de Paris
- November 5, 2025: Victor Baltard study day - Auditorium, Hôtel de Ville de Paris
- Presentation of documents and archives - Bibliothèque Historique de la Ville de Paris - online
- Guided tours - Saint-Augustin church
- Tour of the Saint-Eustache buffet - Église Saint-Eustache
- Organ concert - Église Saint-Eustache
