"Napoleon and urbanism in the 19th century" Topic

"In almost all the cities where Napoleon undertook urban planning, especially outside France, this public works had not only an esthetical and political character, but also strategical.

On the one hand, he demolished old-fashioned fortifications that were often transformed into public promenades and gardens. In 1800, immediately after the victory of Marengo, he ordered the demolition of several fortresses in Piedmont and the citadel of Milan, so that it would be impossible to re-establish them. In 1803, fortresses in Belgium were demolished, including those in Brussels, Leuven, Ghent, Bruges, Möns, Tournai, Namur, Liège and Mechelen. He also took the same decision for German cities such as Düsseldorf. Once these fortifications had been demolished, he had the site laid out as public promenades to surround the cities with a green belt, as he had already begun to do in France…"

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Armand

"Urbanism" is so much easier when you can just 'blow stuff up' rather than all that tedious stuff with planning committees, residents' groups, environmental assessments, etc.

(smile)

Armand