From the vaults of the Roger-Viollet Agency, a selection of photos showing Paris between 1880 and 1950.

Bal du 14 juillet devant le Panthéon. Paris Vème arr., 1912 © Maurice Branger / Roger-Viollet


In October 14, 1938, Hélène Roger and her fiancé, Jean-Victor Fischer, took over the photo shop of Laurent Ollivier, located at 6 rue de Seine, founding “Documentation Photographique Générale Roger-Viollet”.

After WWII, Roger-Viollet bought up numerous collections. By 1960 they had one of the biggest photo banks in Europe, covering more than a century and a half of world history: major events, craftsmen, Beaux Arts, science and politics, the streets of Paris and exotic travels, and of course, famous portraits and candid moments.

The collection contains more than 6 million works and documents, and now belongs to the city of Paris. To celebrate the 70th anniversary of the agency, an exhibition of 70 photos is being held 57 above Paris, on the first floor of the Eiffel Tower. Admire photos of a time gone by, whilst admiring the view of the very city where they were taken!

Moto biplace au Champ-de-Mars. Paris, 1922 © Jacques Boyer / Roger-Viollet

You’ll be able to see the Universal Exposition of 1900, the extraordinary floods of 1910, but also scenes of everday life, with Parisians strolling on the Grands Boulevards or through the Luxembourg Gardens.

Nettoyage des réverbères. Paris Ier arr., place Vendôme, 1944 © LAPI / Roger-Viollet

Here’s all the essential information for the photo exhibition Parisian Chronicles – 70 years of daily life in Paris at the Eiffel Tower

When: 30th March – 1st June 2008
Where: I think you can find the Eiffel Tower for yourself. Think of it as a challenge
Opening hours: 9.30am – 11.45pm every day
Entrance fee: included in the price of the ticket for the Tower – admission to the first floor by lift costs 4.80 euros for adults and 2.50 for kids between 3 and 11 years old (yep, you’re an adult at 12 now!), or you can take the stairs for 4 euros (over 25 years old) or 3.10 euros (under 25s). Complicated system…
Official site: here