Paris in the Belle Époque

Paris in the Belle Époque was a period in the history of the city between the years 1871 to 1914, from the beginning of the Third French Republic until the First World War. It saw the construction of the Eiffel Tower, the Paris Métro, the completion of the Paris Opera, and the beginning of the Basilica of Sacré-Cœur on Montmartre. Three lavish "universal expositions" in 1878, 1889, and 1900 brought millions of visitors to Paris to sample the latest innovations in commerce, art, and technology. Paris was the scene of the first public projection of a motion picture, and the birthplace of the Ballets Russes, Impressionism, and Modern Art. The expression Belle Époque ("beautiful era") came into use after the First World War; it was a nostalgic term for what seemed a simpler time of optimism, elegance, and progress. File:Marville, Charles - State of the Hôtel de Ville of Paris after the fire suffered during the revolts of the Comuna - Google Art Project.jpg|[[Hôtel de Ville, Paris|Hôtel de Ville]] after it was burned by the Paris Commune (May 1871) File:Les Ruines de Paris et de ses Environs 1870-1871, Cent Photographies, Premier Volume. DP161584.jpg|The walls of the [[Tuileries Palace]] after arson by the Paris Commune File:Les Ruines de Paris et de ses Environs 1870-1871, Cent Photographies, Premier Volume. DP161589.jpg|Ruins of the Ministry of Finance on the [[Rue de Rivoli]] File:The Vendôme Column After Being Torn Down by the Communards.jpg|Remains of the column in the [[Place Vendôme|Place Vendome]] File:Commune de Paris rue Royale.jpg|The [[Rue Royale, Paris|Rue Royale]] and the [[La Madeleine, Paris|church of the Madeleine]] File:Paris Commune rue de Rivoli.jpg|Ruins along the Rue de Rivoli, scene of street battles between the Commune and Army After the violent end of the Paris Commune in May 1871, the city was governed by martial law under the strict surveillance of the national government. At the time, Paris was not actually the capital of France.