Henry IV Style

Henry IV style was the dominant architectural approach in France during the reign of King Henry IV, between 1589 and 1610, with Paris as the main focus of building and modernization efforts under his rule. According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica, Henry was a man of grand conception who did not lose himself in detail, and the architecture associated with him reflects that same balance between ambitious vision and restrained ornament. Its major surviving works include the Place des Vosges, considered the greatest monument to this architectural vision, along with the Pont Neuf, the Place Dauphine, and renovations at the Chateau de Fontainebleau. The style paired urban planning with architectural design, and its major projects reflect the commitment Henry himself showed to transforming Paris.