Following Part 1 in spring 2025, this new four-session series continues our exploration of how Paris became the city we know today. Presented by Clémence Pailha and Gérald Checco, the series combines broad historical themes with intriguing behind-the-scenes stories that bring Paris’s past to life. You’ll explore A Century of Revolutions, Haussmannian Paris, La Commune, and conclude with Green Paris, a vision of the city’s future shaped by its past. That is why “Paris sera toujours Paris.”

Moderators: Clémence Pailha, PhD in history, specializes in early modern France’s economic and urban history, focusing on Parisian markets and commercial practices. She has peer-reviewed publications and has taught at Paris Sorbonne. Gérald Checco, retired Cincinnati public administrator, has taught about 20 OLLI sessions and is interested in history, mathematics, and the environment.