Take a Trip Through Paris in the Late 1890s

Want to see what life in the streets of Paris was like over a century ago in the late 1890s? Film restorer Guy Jones collected old footage shot between 1896 and 1900, slowed it down to a natural speed, and added sound for ambiance. This beautiful 6-minute experience is what resulted.

The scenes were all captured in Belle Époque-era Paris, France, by the Lumière company. Here’s an index of things and places you’ll see in the video:

0:08 Notre-Dame Cathedral (1896)

0:58 Alma Bridge (1900)

1:37 Avenue des Champs-Élysées (1899)

2:33 Place de la Concorde (1897)

3:24 Passing of a fire brigade (1897)

3:58 Tuileries Garden (1896)

4:48 Moving walkway at the Paris Exposition (1900)

5:24 The Eiffel Tower from the Rives de la Seine à Paris (1897)

Jones’ YouTube account is dedicated to restored historical film footage and recordings. Earlier this year we shared his popular video showing New York City in 1911. He’s also raising funds to support his efforts through a GoFundMe campaign.