The Marais, between unhealthy island and protected area

The rapid evolution of a emblematic Parisian neighborhood is at the heart of this exceptional conference. Isabelle Backouche, research director at EHESS, invites us to go back in time to the 1970s to decipher the metamorphosis of the Marais. She will reveal how this sector, long considered unhealthy, became a model for preserved heritage. A unique perspective on urban challenges, architectural debates, and the choices that redrew one of Paris’ historic centers. This captivating encounter, proposed as part of the cycle around the exhibition “C'était Paris en 1970,” will take place at the Bibliothèque historique de la Ville de Paris on Wednesday, June 3, 2026.