Not everything went smoothly in Paris at this time. The city was marred by religious conflict between Catholics and Protestants during the 16th Century. Paris remained Catholic. The peak of intolerance came with the St. Bartholomew Massacre in 1572. Parisians remembered it for a long time afterwards. The conflict was resolved when the Protestant Henry of Navarre agreed to convert to Catholicism. He acceded to the throne as King Henry IV in 1598 issued an act of tolerance, the Edict of Nantes.

Paris reached a turning point in urbanization during the century that followed. During the reign of Henry IV, mass development occurred in the city. Bridges were constructed on a large scale, and other projects included the construction of the Botanical Gardens, the future Palais Royale, the hospitals of Val de Grace and Saint Louis, the Tuilleries, the Louvre and the Marais district, with its many grand private residences. Many roads and churches were built, as well.

Under Louis XIV, the rate of development lagged. Although this ruler wanted to transform Paris into a new Rome, the idea only remained at the project stage. He actually visited Paris rarely – just 28 times in his life, often just to attend Mass. He established his royal estate at Versailles, which became the seat of power, although most of the nobles and royals continued to live in Paris.

In addition, Louis XIV destroyed the walls of Paris and completed the Louvre, Les Invalides and Place Vendôme. Also, large mansions in the Classical style were built in Marais. The next in line to the throne was Louis XI. He created the Place Louis XV (today the Place de la Concorde) and the Champs de Mars. The route corresponding to the Champs-Elysées today was traced in a relatively uninhabited zone.