📷 Les Halles

Les Halles de Paris, affectionately known as "The Belly of Paris," was indeed the vibrant central fresh food market of the city, dating back to the 12th century. Over the centuries, it underwent various transformations, reflecting the changing face of Paris itself. The original market structures, celebrated in Émile Zola's novel "Le Ventre de Paris," were replaced in the 1970s by the Forum des Halles, an underground shopping center topped with a sprawling canopy. This modern complex continues to serve as a bustling metropolitan hub, directly connected to the Châtelet–Les Halles station, the largest underground station in the world.