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Stunning Vintage Photos of Les Halles, Paris in the 1960s, before its Demolition

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Les Halles was one of the biggest central fresh food markets in Paris. Its name comes from the wholesale market of fresh produce that used to take place here in the 12th century. Unfortunately, the market’s success led to its demise. Les Halles could not compete in the new market economy and needed massive repairs. The wholesale market was moved to the suburb of Rungis in 1973. The colorful ambiance once associated with Les Halles disappeared in 1973 when it was dismantled (fruit, flower, and vegetable markets moved in 1969, and only the butchers at the meat markets remained).

In the 1960s, traffic congestion at the market caused severe bottlenecks in the city center, and the site was earmarked for demolition. Physically removing the arcades left a gaping hole in the earth, eventually turning into a multi-story underground shopping mall and a metro station called Forum Les Halles. The pavilion built on the site is now a garden, which mimics some of the site’s original features and Baltard’s architecture but is primarily a pleasant pedestrian area. The Pavillon Baltard is one of these halls that still exists as a national monument in Nogent-sur-Marne, a Paris suburb where it is used as a concert hall.

#1 After the opening of the hunt, game is sold by a butcher in a stall in Les Halles on September 6, 1960

After the opening of the hunt, game is sold by a butcher in a stall in Les Halles on September 6, 1960

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#2 Parisians observing the model of an architectural project for the Les Halles shopping center in Paris, 1960

Parisians observing the model of an architectural project for the Les Halles shopping center in Paris, 1960

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#3 Model of an architectural project for the Halles de Paris, 1960s

Model of an architectural project for the Halles de Paris, 1960s

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#4 Model of an architectural project for the Halles de Paris, 1960s

Model of an architectural project for the Halles de Paris, 1960s

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#5 Les Halles in Paris – Restaurant “Au Pid de Cochon”, 1960s

Les Halles in Paris - Restaurant "Au Pid de Cochon", 1960s

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#9 Delivery tricycle in Les Halles, which was historically the traditional central market of Paris, 1960s

Delivery tricycle in Les Halles, which was historically the traditional central market of Paris, 1960s

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#10 The Halles of Paris, Farmers near the Bank of Farmers, 1960s

The Halles of Paris, Farmers near the Bank of Farmers, 1960s

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#11 The Halles Of Paris, Pork Foott in Sanval Street, 1960s

The Halles Of Paris, Pork Foott in Sanval Street, 1960s

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#12 The French Navy in The Market of Les Halles, 1960s

The French Navy in The Market of Les Halles, 1960s

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#16 Wooden Trays Waiting for the vans, Les Halles, 1960s

Wooden Trays Waiting for the vans, Les Halles, 1960s

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#18 A Portrait of a Traditional Sandwiches and Chips Seller, Les Halles, 1960s

A Portrait of a Traditional Sandwiches and Chips Seller, Les Halles, 1960s

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#23 A Traditional Wholesaler of Flowers, Les Halles, 1960s

A Traditional Wholesaler of Flowers, Les Halles, 1960s

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#26 Halles Of Paris, The Vans Street, Les Halles, 1960s

Halles Of Paris, The Vans Street, Les Halles, 1960s

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#27 Halles Of Paris, A Wholesaler of Fruits and Vegetables, Les Halles, 1960s

Halles Of Paris, A Wholesaler of Fruits and Vegetables, Les Halles, 1960s

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#30 Les Halles, Portrait of a Wholesaler Smiling, Les Halles, 1960s

Les Halles, Portrait of a Wholesaler Smiling, Les Halles, 1960s

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#31 Les Halles, A Wholesaler in the Middle of his Carcasses, Les Halles, 1960s

Les Halles, A Wholesaler in the Middle of his Carcasses, Les Halles, 1960s

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#32 A Wholesaler waiting for the opening, Les Halles, 1960s

A Wholesaler waiting for the opening, Les Halles, 1960s

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#36 Purchase of Flowers Giving Merry, Les Halles, 1960s

Purchase of Flowers Giving Merry, Les Halles, 1960s

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#43 The Pushchairs and their Various Uses, Les Halles, 1960s

The Pushchairs and their Various Uses, Les Halles, 1960s

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#45 Portrait of a Wholesaler Smiling, Les Halles, 1960s

Portrait of a Wholesaler Smiling, Les Halles, 1960s

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#46 Wholesalers Putting away Goods, Les Halles, 1960s

Wholesalers Putting away Goods, Les Halles, 1960s

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#49 A Woman Warming up in front of a fire, Les Halles, 1960s

A Woman Warming up in front of a fire, Les Halles, 1960s

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#50 Wholesaler Carrying Cow Carcasses, Les Halles, 1960s

Wholesaler Carrying Cow Carcasses, Les Halles, 1960s

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#53 Les Halles in the Morning, Vegetables Stall, August 1965,

Les Halles in the Morning, Vegetables Stall, August 1965,

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#54 Flowers in Les Halles, which was historically the traditional central market of Paris, on October, 1964 in Paris

Flowers in Les Halles, which was historically the traditional central market of Paris, on October, 1964 in Paris

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#55 Unloading of carcasses by the butchers of Les Halles, Les Halles, 1964

Unloading of carcasses by the butchers of Les Halles, Les Halles, 1964

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#56 Butcher at Les Halles in front of church St. Eustache, Les Halles, 1964

Butcher at Les Halles in front of church St. Eustache, Les Halles, 1964

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#57 Spring day at Les Halles, which was historically the traditional central market of Paris in 1964 in Paris

Spring day at Les Halles, which was historically the traditional central market of Paris in 1964 in Paris

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#62 Famous restaurant ‘Au Pied de Cochon’ in the neighbourhood of Les Halles, on November 14, 1963

Famous restaurant 'Au Pied de Cochon' in the neighbourhood of Les Halles, on November 14, 1963

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#65 People shopping at Paris Les Halles Central Market, 1960s

People shopping at Paris Les Halles Central Market, 1960s

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#75 Market of Les Halles in Paris, France, on February 22, 1962.

Market of Les Halles in Paris, France, on February 22, 1962.

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#76 Les Halles in Paris, France, on February 22, 1962.

Les Halles in Paris, France, on February 22, 1962.

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#77 Market of Les Halles in Paris, France, on February 22, 1962.

Market of Les Halles in Paris, France, on February 22, 1962.

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#78 Market of Les Halles in Paris, on February 22, 1962.

Market of Les Halles in Paris, on February 22, 1962.

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#79 Market of Les Halles in Paris, on February 22, 1962.

Market of Les Halles in Paris, on February 22, 1962.

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#95 Detached house of flowers to the market of Les Halles in Paris, 1967

Detached house of flowers to the market of Les Halles in Paris, 1967

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#96 The Les Halles of Paris during the big fair of the fish, 1967

The Les Halles of Paris during the big fair of the fish, 1967

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#97 The crowd admires the largest buffet in the world where fish of all kinds are artistically presented for the great fish fair, in Paris, 1967

The crowd admires the largest buffet in the world where fish of all kinds are artistically presented for the great fish fair, in Paris, 1967

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#98 The crowd admires the largest buffet in the world where fish of all kinds are artistically presented for the great fish fair, in Paris, 1967

The crowd admires the largest buffet in the world where fish of all kinds are artistically presented for the great fish fair, in Paris, 1967

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#99 Fishermen’s wives photographed in front of Les Halles for the great fish fair, in Paris, 1967

Fishermen's wives photographed in front of Les Halles for the great fish fair, in Paris, 1967

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#100 General view of the crowd at Les Halles for the great fish fair, in Paris, 1967

General view of the crowd at Les Halles for the great fish fair, in Paris, 1967

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#104 Market porters playing up in Les Halles, which was historically the traditional central market of Paris, those men were called ‘Forts des Halles’, 1967

Market porters playing up in Les Halles, which was historically the traditional central market of Paris, those men were called 'Forts des Halles', 1967

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#105 White Christmas trees at flowers hall in Les Halles, which was historically the traditional central market of Paris, in 1967

White Christmas trees at flowers hall in Les Halles, which was historically the traditional central market of Paris, in 1967

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#106 Rainy day on Les Halles, which was historically the traditional central market of Paris in 1967 in Paris

Rainy day on Les Halles, which was historically the traditional central market of Paris in 1967 in Paris

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#108 At the end of market in Les Halles some people are searching for some goods to salvage, Les Halles, 1967

At the end of market in Les Halles some people are searching for some goods to salvage, Les Halles, 1967

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#109 A woman and a man speaking surrounded by bunches of flowers in Les Halles, 1967

A woman and a man speaking surrounded by bunches of flowers in Les Halles, 1967

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#110 Market porter in the meat hall of Les Halles, 1967

Market porter in the meat hall of Les Halles, 1967

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#112 Market gardener in Les Halles, which was historically the traditional central market of Paris, 1967

Market gardener in Les Halles, which was historically the traditional central market of Paris, 1967

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#113 The cellar of the innocents is the basement of Jean Settour’s bar in the district of Les Halles, 1967

The cellar of the innocents is the basement of Jean Settour's bar in the district of Les Halles, 1967

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#114 A Traditional Cheesemarker in Front of his Stall, 1967

A Traditional Cheesemarker in Front of his Stall, 1967

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#118 A display of turkeys and poultry, Les Halles, 1966

A display of turkeys and poultry, Les Halles, 1966

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#119 Halles employees pluck the first partridges slaughtered this season, in Paris, 1966

Halles employees pluck the first partridges slaughtered this season, in Paris, 1966

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#120 View of the interior of the BOF (Butter, Eggs, Cheese) pavilion in the Rungis halls, 1969

View of the interior of the BOF (Butter, Eggs, Cheese) pavilion in the Rungis halls, 1969

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#121 Following the move from Les Halles to Rungis, teams proceed to exterminate warehouses in Paris, France, on March 1, 1969.

Following the move from Les Halles to Rungis, teams proceed to exterminate warehouses in Paris, France, on March 1, 1969.

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#122 Wholesalers from Les Halles move to Rungis in Paris, 1969

Wholesalers from Les Halles move to Rungis in Paris, 1969

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#124 Wholesalers from Les Halles move a cash desk here for Rungis in Paris, 1969

Wholesalers from Les Halles move a cash desk here for Rungis in Paris, 1969

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#125 Wholesalers from Les Halles move to Rungis in Paris, 1969

Wholesalers from Les Halles move to Rungis in Paris, 1969

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#127 Following the move from Les Halles to Rungis, teams carried out the extermination of warehouses in Paris, 1969

Following the move from Les Halles to Rungis, teams carried out the extermination of warehouses in Paris, 1969

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#128 A brazier on the last morning of the wholesale market of Les Halles before its dismantlement, on March, 1969

A brazier on the last morning of the wholesale market of Les Halles before its dismantlement, on March, 1969

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#129 Removal and dismantlement of Les Halles before the wholesale market is being relocated in Rungis on March, 1969

Removal and dismantlement of Les Halles before the wholesale market is being relocated in Rungis on March, 1969

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#130 The Last Morning with a Wholesaler, Les Halles, 1969

The Last Morning with a Wholesaler, Les Halles, 1969

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#131 Butchers at the cafe during the move from Les Halles to Rungis in Paris, France, February 28, 1969.

Butchers at the cafe during the move from Les Halles to Rungis in Paris, France, February 28, 1969.

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#132 Wholesalers from Les Halles move to Rungis in Paris, 1969

Wholesalers from Les Halles move to Rungis in Paris, 1969

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#133 Commerce in the Les Halles district of Paris in France, 1969

Commerce in the Les Halles district of Paris in France, 1969

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#134 Wholesalers from Les Halles move to Rungis in Paris, 1969

Wholesalers from Les Halles move to Rungis in Paris, 1969

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#136 Inauguration of the Rungis new fruits and vegetables hall of the Paris wholesale market on February 24, 1969

Inauguration of the Rungis new fruits and vegetables hall of the Paris wholesale market on February 24, 1969

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#137 The Halles district, shortly before their destruction after the transfer of the market they housed to Rungis, 1969

The Halles district, shortly before their destruction after the transfer of the market they housed to Rungis, 1969

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#138 The ‘forts of Les Halles’ silently demonstrate against their ‘reconversion’ after the transfer of Les Halles to Rungis, 1969

The 'forts of Les Halles' silently demonstrate against their 'reconversion' after the transfer of Les Halles to Rungis, 1969

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#145 The new Paris wholesale market in the close suburb which replaced the former Halles in the center Paris in 1969

The new Paris wholesale market in the close suburb which replaced the former Halles in the center Paris in 1969

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#146 The trucks at night Rue Montmartre in the district of Les Halles, 1969

The trucks at night Rue Montmartre in the district of Les Halles, 1969

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#147 House plants stallholder outside Les Halles, historically the central market of Paris, 1969

House plants stallholder outside Les Halles, historically the central market of Paris, 1969

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#148 At night in Les Halles on October, 1968 in Paris

At night in Les Halles on October, 1968 in Paris

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#149 The famous restaurant ‘Au Pied de Cochon’ in the Les Halles district of Paris, 1968

The famous restaurant 'Au Pied de Cochon' in the Les Halles district of Paris, 1968

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#150 Delivery of carcasses to the butcher’s pavilion in the halls of Paris, 1968

Delivery of carcasses to the butcher's pavilion in the halls of Paris, 1968

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#151 Delivery of carcasses to the pavilion of the butcher’s market in Paris, 1968

Delivery of carcasses to the pavilion of the butcher's market in Paris, 1968

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#153 Delivery of fruits and vegetables to the halls of Paris, 1968

Delivery of fruits and vegetables to the halls of Paris, 1968

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