The research project “ Richelieu. History of the district (1750-1950) », launched in 2018, was born from the collaboration of several public institutions located in the heart of the 2nd arrondissement of Paris. It includes places and monuments from Place des Victoires to Avenue de l’Opéra, and from the Palais-Royal to the Grands Boulevards which, through their common history, are representative of cultural Paris, because there are many theaters and libraries in this area. This project studies the neighborhood through its architectural, human and economic dynamics and by combining iconographic and cartographic sources from the 19th century.e century to the present day.
This is how no less than 4 217 documents, digitized from collections of public institutions – such as the National Library of France, the British Museum, the National Archives, or the specialized libraries and museums of the City of Paris –, form the content of the site “ Richelieu district “. Among these documents, photos of streets, cafes-restaurants and other buildings, but also portraits of artists from yesteryear, posters for shows, restaurant menus and even business cards.
