Les Halles was the hub of all food distribution in Paris for 800 years. During the day, the enormous steel arches covered the main market area, where vegetables were sold and citizens of Paris met. Baltard designed the steelwork, which was reminiscent of the support structures at the Gare du Nord, St. Lazare, or better still, the Musee d’Orsay.
While the construction was considered practical by 19th and 20th century standards, the high beams adorned with paint-encrusted rivets and glass awnings represent the fading beauty of the fin de siècle. The meat and fish markets were most interesting at night when they were hustling and bustling. At night, thousands of tons of meat and fish were bought, butchered, traded, and sold.
Some stunning vintage photos show the biggest market in Paris in the 1950s.
#1 Greengrocer in Les Halles which was the central wholesale market of Paris, 1950
#2 Greengrocer in Les Halles which was the central wholesale market of Paris, 1950
#3 Greengrocer in Les Halles which was the central wholesale market of Paris, 1950
#4 Greengrocers in Les Halles, 1950
#5 Greengrocers in Les Halles, 1950
#6 Greengrocer in Les Halles, 1950
#7 A street scene in the Paris market district of ‘Les Halles’, in Paris, 1954
#8 A man jumping over a gutter in les Halles, 1953
#9 A woman jumping over a gutter in les Halles, 1953
#10 Early in the morning in Les Halles, the traditional central market of Paris, in 1953
#11 Men in front of a brazier behind leeks at night in Les Halles, 1953
#12 Beaubourg District, Les Halles, 1953
#13 Les Halles, 1953
#14 Les Halles, 1953
#15 A nun carrying her Shopping in Les Halles, 1953
#16 Les Halles, 1952,
#17 The Halles, Rue Du Pont-Neuf, 1952
#18 French dancer Zizi Jeanmaire, accompanied by her husband in Les Halles, 1952
#19 Busy street scene of the central market place “Les Halles” and vicinity, 1950s
#20 Les Halles district. 1950s
#21 Greengrocer and market porter in Les Halles which was the central wholesale market of Paris, 1950
#22 Inside view of a cafe in Les Halles district, 1950
#23 Greengrocer in Les Halles which was the central wholesale market of Paris, 1950
#24 Bar in Les Halles district, 1950
#25 Inside view of a cafe in Les Halles district, 1950
#26 Butchers having lunch in Les Halles district, 1950
#27 Market porters in Les Halles which was the central wholesale market of Paris, 1950
#28 Woman in Les Halles, 1950
#29 At the end of market in Les Halles, 1950
#30 New Year’s Eve shopping around the central Halles in Paris, 1959
#31 A restaurant owner choosing his products in Les Halles, which was historically the traditional central market of Paris, 1959
#32 Forum Des HallesNew Year’s Eve shopping, 1959
#33 After The Fire at Les Halles Warehouse, 1959
#34 After The Fire of Les Halles Warehouse, 1959
#35 Beaubourg District, Les Halles, 1957
#36 Greengrocers, Les Halles, 1956
#37 Greengrocers, Les Halles, 1956
#38 Greengrocers, Les Halles, 1956
#39 Greengrocers, Les Halles, 1956
#40 Greengrocers, Les Halles, 1956
#41 Grocers Strike at Paris, Les Halles, 1956
#42 The Halles, October 1955
#43 The meat hall in Les Halles, which was historically the traditional central market of Paris, at seven in the morning, on June 3, 1955
#44 Market porter in the meat hall of Les Halles, which was historically the traditional central market of Paris, those men were called “Forts des Halles”, 1955
#45 The Halles of Paris, 1955
#46 The Meat Unit of Les Halles, 1955
#47 A cheese stall outside a shop in the vicinity of Les Halles, Paris, 1955
#48 The Les Halles Pavillions in Paris, 1955
#49 Christmas Poultry, Les Halles, 1954
#50 Man Carrying Goods on Frame on Back, Les Halles, 1954
#51 Close-up of a typical flower woman, Les Halles, 1953
#52 Les Halles of Paris, 1950s
#53 Les Halles of Paris, 1950s
#54 Les Halles of Paris, 1950s
#55 Les Halles of Paris by Night, 1950s
#56 Les Halles of Paris, 1950s
#57 Les Halles of Paris, 1950s
#58 Les Halles in the morning, 1953
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Disgusting. These are states full of baby pigs. On top of each other. Humans haven’t improved much since this time and place. #thefutureisvegan #peacebeginsonyourplate #someonenotsomething
