Untouched by Houseman

<back blip>

In the latter half of the ninteenth century Paris was transformed by Houseman, who created grand boulevards and avenues by knocking down whole apartment blocks and tearing off the frontages of buildings to widen streets. He mowed through whole districts. This corner, right opposite the hotel entrance, and the remainder of this end of the street survived this destruction. This street and the hotel we stayed in features on the cover of a book all about this transformation. It's now out of print, but the hotel still had one copy which we borrowed. They also have a small painting in the lobby which featured on the cover and used to sell copies. We will definately come back to this hotel when we visit Paris again, it is superb.