This fascinating historical view of the Ile de la Cité from around 1900 captures Paris's ancient heart at a pivotal time. The island had just undergone major transformations during Baron Haussmann's renovations of the 1860s-1870s, which dramatically changed its medieval character by demolishing many old buildings and creating wider avenues. Despite these changes, the island remained the administrative and religious center of Paris, dominated by the spires of Notre-Dame Cathedral and home to important institutions like the Palais de Justice, the Préfecture de Police, and the Tribunal de commerce.

Around 1900, the Ile de la Cité was still a bustling hub of city life, though its population had decreased significantly after Haussmann's works. The island retained its role as the historical cradle of Paris, where the city was founded over 2,000 years earlier. Key landmarks visible in this period view would have included the newly-restored Notre-Dame Cathedral, the glittering Sainte-Chapelle, the imposing Conciergerie, and the Pont Neuf - Paris's oldest surviving bridge completed in 1607.

This image gives us a valuable glimpse of how the island appeared just before the dramatic changes of the 20th century would further transform the urban landscape of central Paris.

Bridgeman Images, founded in 1972 by Harriet Bridgeman (Lady Bridgeman CBE), is one of the world's leading specialists in licensing and distributing fine art, cultural, and historical media. The company works with museums, galleries, collections, and artists to provide a central resource for reproducing imagery and footage.

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