“Hérold,” a name that might not immediately ring bells. But Boulevard Hérold in Paris carries echoes of artistic history and Parisian transformation. This boulevard, like many in Paris, has a story woven into the very fabric of the city.
Once upon a time, Paris was encircled by fortified walls. These walls expanded as the population grew. They defined the city’s limits. But between 1670 and 1785, those fortifications vanished.
Louis XIV, the Sun King, believed Paris needed no defenses. He wanted to show the world that Paris was impregnable without protection. The king and his minister Colbert envisioned transforming the old wall’s location. They planned a beautiful promenade stretching from La Madeleine to Bastille.
This transformation gave rise to the boulevards. The term “boulevard” itself comes from the Flemish word “Bolwerc”. In military terms, it meant an exterior fortification. Boulevard Hérold and other boulevards became favored walking spots. They marked the boundary between Paris and the countryside.
In the 19th century, the boulevards became places of celebration and leisure. People strolled along wide avenues. The boulevards also saw the rise of covered passages. These passages offered shelter from the dust and dirt.
Boulevard Hérold, though not as grand as some of the Grands Boulevards, shares this history. The Grands Boulevards owe their origin to Louis XIV’s minister Jean-Baptiste Colbert. He initiated comprehensive reforms and remodeling of Paris in the late 1660s. This included replacing the city walls with a ring of boulevards, starting in 1670.
The Grands Boulevards originally followed the former Wall of Charles V and Wall of Louis XIII. These included Boulevard Beaumarchais and Boulevard de la Madeleine. Boulevard Haussmann is also considered one of the quintessential Grands Boulevards.
Haussmann’s renovation of Paris brought the boulevard to the heart of the city. Previously, they had been limited to sparsely inhabited areas. The boulevard became a structural urban thoroughfare. Boulevard Hérold benefits from this transformation.
The boulevards of Paris are now instantly recognizable. They feature uniform facades and overhanging balconies. Urban planners strictly control these features.
The demolition of the Thiers wall in the 1920s led to a third ring of boulevards. These were named after the Marshals of the First French Empire. They run just inside the city limits. Boulevard Périphérique, a beltway around Paris, was built on the site of the Thiers wall ruins.
So, as you walk along Boulevard Hérold, remember its place in this history. Think of kings, ministers, and urban planners. They shaped the Paris we see today. It is a legacy of defense turned into delight. A transformation etched in stone and street names.