During the Middle Ages Paris was the largest city in Europe. It was, and still is, a religious, commercial, cultural and intellectual centre. However, by the start of the 18th century, though it could be said to have some beautiful buildings, it was not a beautiful city. Napoleon III engaged Georges-Eugène Haussmann in 1852 to unify the city and to make it more beautiful. The street plan and distinctive appearance of the centre of Paris today is largely the result of Haussmann's renovation. The brilliance of Haussmann’s vision is best seen at Place Charles de Gaulle, the location of the Arc de Triomphe, with 12 boulevards branching out into the city in a radial pattern.

This 3d map of Paris, at a scale of 1:5000, is centred on the Arc de Triomphe. It is a single plaster tile measuring 30x30cm encapsulated in a perspex frame. The model can wall hang or be displayed on a desk or table top.