Widely considered the greatest, finest, most detailed and rarest old map of Paris, this masterpiece was put together by Louis Bretez in 1734, on commission from the Mayor of Paris at the time Michel-Étienne Turgot.
Unlike some of the ancient maps of London, this one is taken from a slight 'birds eye' angle so that you can see the wonderful architecture of the city.
This original map, when assembled from its 20 constituent pieces, measures over 10ft wide or 320cm. Of course, if you are after a very large map, I can help you with that - or, if you would prefer a slightly smaller version, it still looks amazing.
You can also buy this map as 20 individual pieces, which is how this map would've been originally presented. It makes an incredibly dramatic statement piece when framed and hung this way.
Because of the original size of this map, and the intense level of detail, the smallest version of this map is 36x24 inches (90x60cm). Even at this size the writing on the map is quite small. It looks even better when printed large. I can create beautiful, large prints of this map up to 290 inches (740cm) wide. Please get in touch if you're looking for larger, customised or different framing options, such as printing on board, lamination or wallpaper.
The model in the listing images is holding the 36x24 inch (90x60cm) version of this map.
This map covers a big part of central Paris, roughly up to the modern day Boulevard Périphérique, also known as the Périph. Of course, in 1734 only the most central parts of the city had been built up - the rest are just fields.
Many of Paris's oldest landmarks can already be seen, including Notre Dame, Saint-Chapelle, the Louvre, the Tuileries Garden, the Bastille, Île de la Cité, and a bunch of other churches and palaces. There is no Eiffel Tower, of course, nor some of the later royal palaces.
Take a look at the detailed images and try to spot your house or street! Feel free to message me if you want to confirm if a certain place is on this map.
This would make a wonderful birthday, housewarming or Christmas gift for someone from Paris or who has the French capital in their heart.
You can order the map itself, or you can order a framed version. The frame is a nice, simple black frame that really makes the map pop out when on a wall. Please get in touch if you'd like a different frame. I use super-clear acrylic (perspex/acrylite) in my frames - it's less reflective than glass and better for transport.