These amazing pictures were taken by Allan Hailstone and his father during their trip together to the French capital in July 1955, back when the post-war city was beginning to establish itself as a city of culture and underwent a massive reconstruction.
“I think that the main difference of Paris then was the absence of tourists.” Said Hailstone. “Nowadays, the advent of cheap air fares means that every interesting city in the world is thronged with visitors. One of my old shots of Montmartre of the famous Boulangerie street with Sacre Coeur in the distance shows a deserted street. Nowadays that street is packed with visitors, as I saw last year when I was there.”
Take a look back at the city in 1955 through these 33 beautiful vintage black-and-white pictures. For more fascinating photographs, visit Hailstone’s brilliant Flickr site.
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| Place du Tertre |
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| Paris |
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| Avenue des Champs Elysees |
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| Paris |
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| Paris |
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| Montmartre |
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| Montmartre |
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| Paris |
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| Montmartre |
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| Lottery, Barbes-Rochechouart Metro |
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| Montmartre |
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| Place du Tertre |
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| Rue Drevet |
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| Place du Tertre |
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| Avenue des Champs Elysees |
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| In rue de Rochechouart |
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| Place du Tertre |
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| Cafe de la Paix |
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| Paris |
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| Paris |
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| Near Place du Tertre |
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| Au Printemps department store, Boulevard Haussman |
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| Sacre Coeur and Place du Tertre |
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| Place du Tertre |
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| Paris |
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| Paris |
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| Paris |
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| Montmartre |
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| Rue Berthe |
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| Paris |
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| Paris |
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| Rue Berthe |
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| Paris |